Government leader urges social welfare support for disadvantaged people

In line with the dispatch, the Vietnamese Government chief requested that chairs of municipal and provincial People's Committees direct local police forces and competent agencies to create the best possible conditions for COVID-19 treatment among disadvantaged people. This should be done whilst implementing social welfare and COVID-19 prevention and control policies as regulated.

During the course of a working session held one day earlier with authorities of Ho Chi Minh City, currently the largest COVID-19 hotspot, the PM required the southern metropolis to continue implementing its drastic prevention and control measures whilst devising a plan to relocate locals from densely-populated areas.

He urged the city to ensure a sufficient supply of food, social welfare, and health care services for residents during the lockdown period as a means of slowing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PM Chinh also noted the importance of communication activities aimed at raising public awareness of citizens’ rights, obligations, and responsibility for themselves and the wider community

Authorities of the city and its districts must strive to enhance inspection and help lower-level administrations fulfill the set targets in fighting the pandemic, while the army, public security, and medical forces should respond to the southern city’s request, he stressed.

Various ministries and agencies are also required to help the city at this peak time in the ongoing fight against the pandemic, with priority being given to the region in terms of vaccine supplies.

Phan Van Mai, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the traffic in the city has dropped by 90% compared to the early days of social distancing measures being enforced. As many as 5.6 million vaccine doses have so far been injected throughout the southern city.

The municipal authorities have also worked alongside suppliers to bring goods to communes and townships, thereby ensuring that the basic needs of residents are met while striving to maintain production and prevent supply disruption, he said.

Mai also suggested that the Health Ministry, localities, and agencies assist the city in personnel and equipment for pandemic prevention and control work.