The total number of COVID-19 cases detected in the country remained at 1,044, of whom 690 are locally transmitted, including 550 infections linked to the outbreak in the central city of Da Nang since July 25, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

As many as 735 out of the 1,044 patients have been successfully treated, while 34 others died of the disease. Most of the deceased were elderly patients with underlying health conditions.

Among the active patients, 27 tested negative for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once, 53 twice and 37 three times.

There are 66,946 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entered Vietnam from pandemic-hit regions under quarantine across the country./.

Health Ministry receives donated medical supplies for COVID-19 fight

The Health Ministry received donated medical supplies for the COVID-19 fight at a ceremony in Hanoi on September 1.  

 The UNDP in Vietnam gave 15 Ohmni robots which have the main function of remote communication, remote diagnoses and treatment. This is the UNDP’s second delivery of the robots, intended to protect medical workers in highly infectious context.

 Grab Vietnam presented 50,000 N95 face masks. In February this year, the company, along with the Health Ministry, delivered 100,000 medical masks to 33 medical stations in seven northern border provinces.  

Meanwhile, Wipro Consumer Care Vietnam donated 5,000 N95 medical masks and Thien Binh Investment Company 2,000 set of protective gear.

The donations were part of public response to a communication campaign initiated and implemented by the Health Ministry in collaboration with the UNDP with the theme Niem Tin Chien Thang (Confidence of Victory).

The campaign, lasting from August 6 to September 30, aims to promote all of society to participate in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASEAN cooperation in COVID-19 fight reviewed

The ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on Public Health Emergencies (ACCWG-PHE) reviewed cooperation within ASEAN in the fight against COVID-19 during its third meeting, held in the form of video conferencing, on September 1.

The delegates also focused on preparations for the 27th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council to be held this month.

They highlighted the establishment of the COVID-19 ASEAN response fund, and progress in the establishment of the regional warehouses of medical supplies, and the building of standard operating procedures in public health emergencies.

Expressing their concern over the complexity of the new waves of the pandemic in the region and the world, the delegates shared the view that the fight largely depends on vaccine and drug research.

They agreed to adjust regulations of the COVID-19 respond fund to make it easier for countries to contribute to the fund, and enhance cooperation with East Asia Summit (EAS) partner countries at the official and expert levels in the pandemic combat.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and head of SOM ASEAN-Vietnam Nguyen Quoc Dung called on ASEAN countries and the ASEAN Secretariat to continue with their coordination to promote initiatives on COVID-19 response.

He urged completing procedures soon so as to announce the establishment of the medical warehouses at the 27th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council, and complete standard operating procedures in public health agencies to be submitted to the 37th ASEAN Summit.

Regarding the ASEAN framework recovery framework, Dung proposed the ASEAN Secretariat swiftly complete documents and focus on addressing the impacts of the pandemic, helping businesses and people resume their normal activities, and promoting comprehensive, sustainable recovery.

Also on September 1, Deputy Minister Dung attended the 12th Coordinating Conference for ASEAN Political-Security Community (ASCCO-12) which was held in the form of teleconferencing.

The meeting looked into the draft mid-term review report for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025.

In his remarks, Dung highlighted achievements in the implementation of the blueprint over the past five years, with 96 percent of the 290 action plans materialised.

He, however, pointed to challenges such as how to ensure the quality and efficiency of the implementation, difficulties in coordination between ministries and agencies, and shortcoming in the communication work.

The official suggested the meeting identify priorities and include them in the blueprint, thus ensuring political-security cooperation within ASEAN effectively adapt to emerging challenges.

Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair, will coordinate with the ASEAN Secretariat to perfect the mid-term review report on the APSC Blueprint 2025 to submit it to the APSC Council for approval before it is sent to the 37th ASEAN Summit in November.

Malaysia bans entry of citizens of India, Indonesia, Philippines

Long-term pass holders from India, Indonesia and Philippines will not be allowed to enter Malaysia as from September 7, senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on September 1.

The minister said the move aims to prevent imported cases of COVID-19 from being spread in the country.

He noted that the three above-mentioned countries have seen a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The restrictions will affect those holding permanent resident status, participants of Malaysia My Second Home, expatriates and professional visit pass holders, spouses of Malaysian citizens and students.

Indonesia reported 2,755 new COVID-19 cases on September 1, taking the total to 177,571. In addition, 88 more deaths on the day raised the total fatalities to 7,505, the highest in the region.

Meanwhile, the Philippines had 3,483 new cases and 39 deaths on September 1, raising the total count of COVID-19 cases to 224,264 and fatalities to 3,597. President Rodrigo Duterte on August 31 extended the restrictions in parts of Manila and around the capital city for another month. VNA