Health Minister: Fresh COVID-19 wave may last longer in Vietnam

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long has warned the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to last longer, on a large scale, and the mutated virus is more transmissible.

Long made the warning at a Cabinet meeting in Hanoi on May 17, referring to developments of latest COVID-19 outbreaks at industrial parks in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, as well as in other localities.

Bac Giang has become the epicenter of the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, recording more than 400 cases, or one third of the country’s tally following the resurgence of the virus in late April.

Daily caseload broke the record, with most of the cases diagnosed at Hosiden Vietnam Co. Ltd., an electronic parts supplier, at Quang Chau industrial park.

The situation has been basically brought under control in Bac Giang, said Minister Long, adding new cases have all been detected in quarantine or lockdown areas.

However, he speculated that the latest COVID-19 wave may last longer and evolves in a complicated manner due to the emergence and rapid transmissibility of mutated virus.

Results of genome sequences by Vietnamese scientists show both variants B.1.1.7 originating from the United Kingdom and B.1.617.2 from India have been found in several Vietnamese localities during the latest outbreaks.

According to the minister, localities must strengthen inspection to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control measures are fully implemented at production lines, and those that fail to meet the requirements are forced to temporarily halt production.

He recalled the Prime Minister’s recent conclusions that social distancing is only implemented in localities where the situation becomes serious and that widespread social distancing will exert an enormous impact on production and people’s life.

Amid public concerns about the impact the new COVID-19 wave may have on the upcoming general election on May 23, the minister also said the MoH has sent detailed instructions to localities to ensure maximum safety for the election.

Vietnamese voters will go to the polls on May 23 to elect a new National Assembly and grassroots-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure.

Vietnam has recorded more than 1,400 COVId-19 cases in 27 cities and provinces across the country since the virus recurred less than three weeks ago.