According to the ministry, the country has reported a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases since the beginning of April, with 639 infections confirmed nationwide in a week from April 5-11, a 3.8-fold increase against the previous week.
The ministry called on localities to properly prepare treatment activities for Covid-19 patients and at the same time carry out preventive measures to curb the pandemic.
Dr Nguyen Thu Huong from Hanoi-based Thanh Nhan Hospital told Dantri/Dtinews last week that the hospital received between 10-15 people daily suffering from coughs, sore throats and fever.
Huong added that people are ignoring Covid-19 prevention regulations, while the effect of the Covid-19 vaccine has decreased over time. The doctor advised people to take a quick Covid-19 test when having suspected Covid-19 symptoms or contact medical facilities for instruction.
Dr Tran Dac Phu, former director of the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health, also said that people had given up wearing masks and using hand wash, while the current weather could also fuel Covid-19 infections.
The health sector needed to assess the possibility of a new Covid-19 variant for better disease prevention and control, Phu noted.