The leader made the call in the wake of the rapid spread of the disease around the world and its profound and comprehensive impact on every socio-economic aspect in countries, including Vietnam.

He called for the drastic and effective implementation of relevant guidelines by the Party and State, and the management by the Government and the Prime Minister in this regard.

“Each citizen must be a soldier in the battlefield against the disease,” he stressed.

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA The Vietnamese top leader presides over a meeting of the Politburo on COVID-19 prevention and control. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosts a teleconference with five centrally-run cities and quarantine sites and urges prompt actions to stamp out the epidemic. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The leader recalled the pandemic situation worldwide and added that the disease may develop in a more complicated and unexpected way, thus causing more severe consequences.

Over the recent past, under the leadership of the Party and the State, and the management of the Government and the Prime Minister, the National Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the agencies and localities as well as the entire political system have stayed united to take various concerted measures aimed at preventing and containing the spread of the epidemic, while ensuring the implementation of the socio-economic development tasks and social welfare and security, the top leader said.

The initial and positive results of the fight are a manifestation of the strength of the national unity and the resolve of the entire Party, people and army in the combat, which have won recognition and praises by the world, he added

Trong lauded the involvement of all-level Party committees and organisations, and authorities, as well as untiring efforts of the health sector, the army, public security force, ministries, agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the business community and media agencies.

He expressed special thanks to compatriots, comrades and soldiers at home, as well as overseas Vietnamese for their trustful and warm support during the fight.

Vietnam is now at a point of time of the rising risk of community transmission, he said, urging the whole political system to give due attention to preventing and containing the pandemic.

“Don’t panic excessively but absolutely don’t be subjective,” the leader said.

He emphasised the need to keep a close watch on the situation, forecast the worst scenario and promptly work out effective measures to contain and prevent the spread of the disease.

Each agency, unit, organisation and locality needs to closely follow the instructions and tighten coordination in the battle, and prioritise resources, time and efforts to the important work, he requested.

“In the time ahead, we may have to face even greater difficulties that require greater efforts and stronger determination,” he warned.

BRG Retail (BRG Group), which operates a chain of more than 100 supermarkets in a number of brands such as Fuji Mart, Hapro Mart and Intimex, proactively coordinates with suppliers to increase 300-500% of essential commodities and food in supermarkets and ten times of reserved goods in its central storages. The retailer also promotes online shopping to meet the demand of customers and reduce the risk of the epidemic spread. Photo: Tran Viet/VNA The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No. 2 in Hanoi’s Dong Anh district has made efforts to prevent the epidemic. On March 30, 27 patients were discharged and 53 patients have been treated at the hospital. Photo: VNA   Nearly 300 citizens finished their quarantine at the artillery regiment 58 of the 308th Infantry Division on March 30. Up to now, 127 military units have received 54,375 overseas Vietnamese for quarantine and 22,759 people finished their 14-day quarantine. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA To mitigate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the Hanoi-based Bach Mai hospital is quarantined after several COVID-19 cases detected. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA Soldiers of the Chemistry Army and Military Medicine Department under the Ministry of National Defense sprayed disinfectant to sterilize Bach Mai hospital in March 28’s evening. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA According to the direction of the Prime Minister, all unnecessary services as well as cultural, religious and tourist sites in Hanoi stopped operations on March 28 to prevent the disease from spreading in the community. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA On March 30, 30 COVID-19 patients were cured and discharged from hospitals, including three patients in the acute respiratory disease hospital in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City and 27 ones from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No. 2 in Hanoi’s Dong Anh district. Photo: VNA

An active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam is making all-out efforts, cooperating and coordinating with other countries, especially those hard hit by the pandemic, the leader said.

In the current context, global solidarity and action coordination is a firm basis for the world’s ultimate victory against the pandemic, he stressed.

Concluding his letter, he once again called on the entire Vietnamese nation to join hands and stay united to overcome all difficulties and challenges in order to stamp out the epidemic./.