Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VNA)

The decision was announced at a meeting chaired by Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong on Tuesday at which Vietnam’s top leaders discussed urgent measures to fight the pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern localities.

Mr. Trong said, “We need to be more aggressive against the coronavirus and calm as well. Exemplary response models and individuals deserve praise. It’s difficult to anticipate how things may go to set out scenarios. The Steering Committee must draft a detailed plan and strictly follow it.”  

Party General Secretary Trong demanded that mass vaccination be rolled out quickly, particularly in hard-hit localities like Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An. He called for efforts to maintain security and social order, prevent hostile forces from sabotaging the regime and its COVID-19 battle, save lives, and provide food and other necessities to people following social distancing mandates.