Checking body temperature

Reports from 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam show that there were 33,775 Chinese workers in Vietnam and 26,388 people returned to China during the lunar new year holiday. After the lunar holiday, 7,600 Chinese workers returned to work in Vietnam.

The authorities in 41 provinces and cities reported that 5,112 Chinese workers are being quarantined. Of which 248 cases entered Vietnam for more than 14 days ago, 1,085 cases entered Vietnam between 10-14 days ago and 3,779 cases were in Vietnam for less than 10 days.

Most of the cases are quarantined at worker dormitories. Some suspected cases are admitted to medical facilities.

On February 2, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs sent official documents to localities authorities.

Firms are asked to temporarily stop receiving foreign workers who had visited outbreak areas and Chinese workers who return from China after the lunar new year. In cases workers had already returned to work, firms must submit the list of those workers and implement measures to monitor and quarantine the workers.

Six Chinese people in Ben Tre receive discharge from hospital

On February 13, the local authorities of the Ben Tre Department of Health said that six Chinese people suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been discharged from hospital.

The group had been put into isolation at the Cu Lao Minh General Hospital in Mo Cay Nam district. Following 14 days of strict monitoring, they remained in good health conditions, showing no indications of a cough, a fever, or shortness of breath.

Their isolation started on February 3, following the Mo Cay Bac District’s Medical Center receiving a notice regarding five Chinese people from Mingda Garment Company who had come to the Military Hospital 120 in Tien Giang province.

Due to one of the individuals suffering from sneezes and a runny nose, the district health centre co-ordinated with the company to bring the Chinese nationals and their manager into quarantine at the Cu Lao Minh General Hospital.

Simultaneously, the Military Hospital 120 in Tien Giang province also moved to isolate three doctors and seven health workers due to their close contact with five Chinese people.

The same day, the head of Military Hospital 120 stated that 10 doctors had been let out of the isolation area due to their health being normal.

At present, the provinces of Tien Giang and Ben Tre have not reported any positive cases of the COVID, with local authorities continuing to work in collaboration with relevant ministries, agencies, and residents to take steps to combat the disease.

Pilgrims asked to wear masks when visiting pagodas and temples

Vietnam’s Buddhist Sangha also asked Buddhist temples to halt all festivals and worship courses which congregate large numbers of pilgrims from all over the country.

Vietnam’s Buddhist Sangha has requested pilgrims to wear face masks to prevent the contraction and contagion of Covid-19, even while praying, VnExpress reported.

The request is stated in documents on preventing and combating coronavirus at places of worship, signed by superior monk Thich Duc Thien, vice chairman and general secretary of the Vietnam’s Buddhist Sangha earlier this week.

Accordingly, temples, pagodas and other worship facilities are required to follow strictly the measures regulated by the Ministry of Health. “It is essential to disseminate the skills on nCoV prevention. Each Buddhist follower has to regard prevention skill dissemination a responsibility for oneself and the community,” the Sangha’s directive said.

Religious sites must provide masks and teach the followers how to wear them as well as wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer correctly while the Buddist sermons ought to include the warnings of the epidemic.

Buddhist temples across the country are asked to prepare plans to coordinate with medical facilities to take care, soon detect the infected people who must be taken to hospitals and quarantine areas.

Pilgrims are warned to stay away from dangerous areas, especially the epidemic-hit areas namely Tam Dao, Binh Xuyen and Tam Duong in Vinh Phuc province.

Vietnam’s Buddhist Sangha also asked Buddhist temples to halt all festivals and worship courses which congregate large numbers of pilgrims from all over the country. However, the daily prayers at independent monasteries are allowed.

The World Health Organization denominated the disease as Covid-19 on February 11, explaining that “co” is the abbreviation of corona while “vi” and “d” are in short of virus and disease respectively.

At the time of writing, there have been 60,062 infected cases worldwide and 1,355 deaths. Vietnam has reported 15 infections and no fatalities. Dtinew/Hanoitimes

Companies hit by shortage of skillful Chinese workers due to virus

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has disrupted several companies in Vietnam as thousands of Chinese workers have been unable to return to work after Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Chinese employees quarantined amid coronavirus fear

The HCM City Department of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs has told a number of firms that 1,079 foreign workers who recently travelled to China and returned to HCM City to work after the Lunar New Year holiday must be quarantined.