Spraying disinfectant to prevent spread of COVID-19

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 has become a priority of millions of Vietnamese people over the past time, according to British freelance journalist Georgina Quach.

In a recent article posted on the website OneZero, the writer mentioned the proud success of Vietnam in the battle against the pandemic.

“One of the most effective tools Vietnam used to manage the spread of the coronavirus was public education, often deployed via popular social media channels,” she said.

The journalist cited that in February, Vietnam’s health ministry released the viral hand-washing song “Ghen Co Vy” (Jealous Coronavirus), spreading preventive advice to millions of people. The hashtag #GhenCoVyChallenge has 37.7 million views and counting on the platform.

Vietnam’s communication apparatus was also critical for implementing nationwide programmes, she said, adding that early on, Vietnam focused on targeted testing and aggressive contact tracing, a tactic that helped it become the first country to have stopped the local transmission of SARS 17 years ago.

Along with proactive monitoring, Vietnam also launched two smartphone apps, which enable users to log their symptoms and voluntarily report suspected infections in their areas, thus identifying hot spots.

Meanwhile, journalist Dana Kenedy recently posted a story titled “How did Vietnam manage to avoid even one coronavirus death?” on the New York Post, praising Vietnam’s achievements in response to COVID-19.

She quoted the US Cable News Network (CNN) as saying Vietnam ignored China and the World Health Organisation’s initial insistence that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission and deployed rapid measures like strict quarantine, and contact tracing.

Vietnam’s first coronavirus cases were not reported until January 23, but by that time the country was prepared, she said.

Kenedy went on that Vietnam declared a national epidemic on February 1 though it had just six confirmed cases nationwide. All flights between Vietnam and China were halted, followed by the suspension of visas to Chinese citizens the next day.

Vietnam later lifted social distancing rules in late April after a three-week shutdown but hasn’t reported any local infections for more than 40 days in a row. Businesses and schools have reopened, and life is slowly resuming a normal pace, she wrote./.

Vietnam records no new COVID-19 infections in community for 46 days

Vietnam has gone through 46 consecutive days without new COIVD-19 infections in the community as of June 1 morning, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Among the total 328 cases nationwide, 188 were imported and quarantined right upon their arrival. As many as 279 patients, equivalent to 85 percent of the total, have recovered.

The remainders are being treated at centrally- and provincially-run hospitals. All of them are in stable condition.

Seven patients tested negative for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once, and 22 others tested negative for the virus twice or more.

At present, 7,256 people having close contact with patients or entering from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined, including 23 at hospitals, 6,301 at concentrated quarantine establishments and 932 at home, and home.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the pandemic is expected to prolong for months, even years.

The organisation recommended Vietnam step up efforts to curb the disease in the long run./.

COVID-19: Critically ill British patient recovering, receiving physiotherapy

To doctors' surprise, the British patient is recovering considerably as he is now able to understand doctors, move his head and fingers

The British patient who is critically ill with the novel coronavirus in Vietnam has gone on making partial recovery as his lung and kidney functions have increased gradually, doctors said on May 31.

The patient, known as patient 91 in Vietnam, who is receiving treatment at Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray hospital, has stopped life-sustaining dialysis since May 27 thanks to improved kidney function. 

His lung function has also increased to 40% following a CT-scan on May 28 instead of just 10% in early May.  

The patient remains conscious, and has a stronger cough reflex and increased muscle strength. His diaphragm has started working weakly. He is being fed via the gastrointestinal tract, and provided physiotherapy twice a day.

However, the 43-year-old obese man is still on the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine (ECMO) despite the reduction of ECMO parameters.

His lungs were infected with Burkholderia cenocepacia, a species of Gram-negative bacteria which is said to be very difficult to treat. After a consultation on May 29, leading specialists and doctors decided to change antibiotics for the patient.

The patient, who works for Vietnam Airlines as a pilot, was diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease, in Mid-March.

After being admitted to HCM City-based Hospital of Tropical Diseases, his health had deteriorated due to his lung infection complications. He had fallen into a coma until he moved his head and fingers two days ago.

The patient has tested negative many times for the past few days. Doctors are seeking potential sources of lungs for a transplant which is believed to be the only way to save his life.

Hundreds of new COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore, Indonesia

Singapore and Indonesia reported hundreds of new COVID-19 infections while Thailand confirmed four new imported cases on May 31.

The Singaporean Ministry of Health confirmed 518 more COVID-19 cases on May 31, raising the total infections to 34,884, and most of the new patients are migrant workers residing in dormitories.

There are 374 patients still under treatment while 13,242 others under quarantine in the city state at present.

The same day, the Health Ministry of Indonesia announced 700 new infections of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, adding up to the total of 26,473 cases.

Achmad Yurianto, a health official, also informed about 40 more deaths from the disease, bringing the number of facilities in the country to 1,613. Besides, 7,308 patients have fully recovered so far.

Meanwhile, Thailand confirmed four new cases, who are from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and no deaths on May 31. The respective total figures now stand at 3,081 and 57.

Panprapa Yongtrakul, a spokeswoman of the Thai Government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said the community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in her country has slowed down, and about 80 percent of the new cases over the last couple of weeks were Thais returning from overseas.

In the Philippines, the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines is set to resume some domestic and international flights on June 1 after more than two months of suspension.

They include the routes linking with the US, Vietnam, mainland China, Malaysia, Indonesia, China’s Hong Kong and Taipei, Singapore, Japan, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The planned domestic flights include ones connecting Manila with Basco, Laoag, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga, and Bacolod./.

Over 340 Vietnamese brought home from Singapore

More than 340 Vietnamese citizens in Singapore arrived at Can Tho International Airport on a repatriation flight on May 31.

Passengers on the flight, organised by Vietnamese authorities, the country’s embassy in Singapore, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and relevant agencies of Singapore, included those under the age of 18, elderly people, persons with illnesses, labourers with expired contracts, and others with expired visas stranded in Singapore due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnamese Embassy sent staff members to assist the citizens to complete procedures before their plane took off.

Under the Prime Minister’s directions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, domestic agencies and Vietnam’s overseas representative bodies have arranged a number of flights to bring Vietnamese home.

After landing in the homeland, all people on board received heath examination and were put in quarantine in line with regulations.

On the basis of the pandemic’s developments in the country and the world, citizens’ aspirations and local quarantine capacity, more flights are set to be conducted in the coming time to repatriate Vietnamese citizens./

Webinar gives career advice to Vietnamese in Germany amid pandemic

The Vietnam Germany Innovation Network (VGI), the Association of Vietnamese Students in Germany and the Asia Charity Organisation held a webinar on May 29 to share an overview of job opportunities in the European country amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The event aimed to help Vietnamese people and those of Vietnamese origin in Germany to gain success in their learning and research, and maintain or seek jobs during and after the pandemic. It was attended by representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, speakers from the VGI, and an audience of over 200.

Speakers at the webinar said the coronavirus pandemic has shaken the economy of not only Germany but also the whole world. It also poses latent risks that may cause unpredictable consequences in the time ahead.

They cited experts as forecasting that unemployment will surge while new difficulties, challenges and obstacles will emerge in the labour market. Particularly, it will be harder for students who graduate in 2020 to seek jobs compared to those graduating in previous years.

At the seminar, speakers also informed about the result of an online survey of employment-related concerns and demand among Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin students, postgraduates and experts in Germany, and shared their experience with participants.

Tran Dong, chief representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology in Germany, told the Vietnam News Agency that when the COVID-19 broke out, VGI members swiftly updated the expatriates on the German Government’s aid and credit packages for businesses and families, as well as professional knowledge about treatment and preventive measures, to help them cope with the pandemic.

Following a successful teleconference on Vietnamese people in Germany amid the pandemic on May 17, the VGI invited more Vietnamese experts holding important positions at prestigious organisations like Axel Springer SE, MDC Berlin and NTT Data, along with German experts at eBay Kleinanzeigen and Vlab, to offer job orientations at this webinar to assist the young during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

Singapore, China to open 'fast lane' for essential travel next month

Singapore and China have agreed to launch a “fast-lane” arrangement in early June to facilitate essential travel for business and official purposes, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on May 29.

The arrangement will be first applied between Singapore and the six Chinese provinces or municipalities directly under the central government - Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with effective COVID-19 prevention and control measures being in place to ensure safety.

The measure was discussed at the 2nd China-Singapore joint meeting on COVID-19, which was held in the form of video conference on May 28.

During the meeting, the two countries spoke highly of the mutual support rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic, including assistance in terms of medical treatment and stay for each other’s citizens during the period.

They agreed to support the leading role of the World Health Organization in the global campaign against the novel coronavirus, the MFA said.

Both nations also backed the early convening of the Special Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to implement the outcomes of the earlier Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19 last April and agreed on the importance of enhancing regional cooperation on prevention and control of the disease./.

Remaining 49 patients under treatment with no community infections

No fresh coronavirus case was recorded on June 1, marking the 46th consecutive day the country has gone without community transmission, while remaining 49 cases are undergoing treatment at central and provincial health facilities, the Ministry of Health reported on June 1.

According to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, among the 328 active cases recorded so far, 188 entered the country from abroad and were isolated immediately after their arrival. 

The overall number of successfully cured patients rose to 279 and a total of 29 positive cases have tested negative for the SARS-CoV2 virus for several times.

Currently, 7,256 people having close contacts with confirmed patients or entering from epidemic-hit areas are being in quarantine at hospitals, at concentrated quarantine facilities, and at homes.

Over the past few months, a number of special flights have repatriated thousands of Vietnamese from numerous countries, including Canada, France, Japan, Russia, the UAE and the US, and other Southeast Asian nations.

The country has so far reported no locally-transmitted infections and deaths, however, health officials have underscored the need to continue tightening controls on all arrivals from abroad as there will be more flights bringing Vietnamese citizens back home in line with their expectation. All new arrivals will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period to prevent community transmission.

Meanwhile, 6,246,544 positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed globally so far, including 373,370 deaths due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Int’l flight crew, students, experts entering Vietnam should be strictly monitored: experts

Aircraft of Vietnamese airlines are parked at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi - PHOTO: VNA

During a meeting held to discuss the implications of Covid-19, Associate Professor Dr Tran Dac Phu, former director of the Agency of Preventive Medicine, stressed that the arrival of several groups of people could lead to new imported cases of the coronavirus in the country and suggested that Vietnam's authorities continue taking drastic steps to quarantine airline crew members, experts and students entering the country.

At the meeting, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long noted that Vietnam has contained the spread of Covid-19, but the pandemic is still spreading in several other countries. However, as Vietnam has repatriated Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad and allowed foreign experts and highly skilled workers to return for work, another coronavirus wave is likely to break out in the country.

The late detection of even one imported case could lead to another Covid-19 outbreak in the community. In this regard, Long stressed that the authorities should closely monitor people entering Vietnam in the coming months.

Representatives from the ministries of National Defense and Public Security also suggested stringent measures to monitor people entering the country.

Several attendees recommended that the Ministry of National Defense receive and quarantine foreign students arriving in Vietnam.

Concluding the discussion, the national steering committee for Covid-19 infection prevention and control asked localities to keep monitoring pilots and crew members serving international flights. They were also asked to closely monitor hotels that were used as centers to quarantine international flight crews, in line with prevailing regulations.

The Health Ministry was asked to send a rapid reaction force to inspect these lodging facilities to address any violations.

COVID-19: Indonesia makes smart helmet to detect people with high temperature

The Indonesian Army announced on May 31 that it had successfully made a smart helmet that can detect people with symptoms of coronavirus infection.

Head of the Army Medical Centre (Kapuskesad) Maj. Gen. Ratmono said that the smart helmet, developed by the centre, is equipped with a camera and a body temperature measuring device. It can detect people with high temperatures at a distance of 8-10 metres.

The helmet can monitor temperatures of up to 13 people at once, so it is useful for those working at crowded places, such as airports and bus stations, he added.

On May 31, the Indonesian Health Ministry announced 700 new infections of SARS-CoV-2, adding up to the total of 26,473 cases.

Achmad Yurianto, a health official, also informed about 40 more deaths from the disease, bringing the number of facilities in the country to 1,613. Besides, 7,308 patients have fully recovered so far.

Meanwhile, 57 new COVID-19 infections were reported in Malaysia, raising the tally to 7,819, including 115 deaths.

The same day, the Department of Health of the Philippines also confirmed 862 new cases and seven fatalities, bringing the total numbers to 18,086 and 957, respectively.

Among the patients, 3,909 have been given the all-clear./.

Nestlé donates 88,000 medical face masks to MoH

Nestlé Việt Nam has donated 88,000 medical face masks to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to assist he fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Việt Nam.

The masks, worth VNĐ1.4 billion (more than US$60,000), have been delivered to medical personnel in Hà Nội, HCM City and the provinces of Đồng Nai, Hưng Yên and Đắk Lắk as well as the General Department of Preventive Medicine.

Director of Nestlé's Bông Sen Factory Pierre Morin congratulated the Vietnamese Government and the Ministry of Health for their effective preventive measures in the COVID-19 fight, and at the same time appreciated the tireless efforts of Vietnamese medical staff.

Reportedly, the firm has actively joined efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Việt Nam. It has donated nutritional products and VNĐ12 billion in cash to support forces directly involved in COVID-19 prevention and control.

Also, the firm supported 22,000 business counterparts across the country with products worth nearly $1 million to help them overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.