Largest coronavirus hotspot asks for more time to control outbreak
VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, is likely to miss the September 15 deadline and need more time to bring its prolonged COVID-19 outbreak under control, according to a top official of the city.
In a resolution adopted in early August, the Government requested HCM City to keep the outbreak in check by September 15.
HCM City imposed social distancing on May 31 and has several times extended the order with stricter measures in order to halt the spread of the virus in the community.
Nguyen Van Nen, Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee admitted on September 11 that only several districts have met the deadline and the city may need another two weeks to control the outbreak.
Over the past two weeks, HCM City has stepped up its extensive testing campaign in an effort to early detect and separate F0 cases from the community, but it is very hard to achieve the target within a certain time, Nen confided.
The city may ask the government to extend the deadline till the end of September, he said, assigning the Municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control to prepare a document for submission to the Government.
Whether the city will extend or relax its social distancing measures to some certain extent depends on the developments of the outbreak and the risks in each area, but its top priority is given to safety for people’s health and for production, Nen said.
To date only three districts of Cu Chi, Can Gio and 7 said they have met the Ministry of Health’s criteria to control the outbreak. They have developed plans to gradually resume essential services in a new normal status to support local people’s life and production.
The remaining 21 districts are battling against the virus, but the outbreak is showing signs of abating.
HCM City has recorded nearly 300,000 coronavirus infections, or half of the country’s total, since the virus resurged in late April.
