Vietnam recorded no new COVID-19 cases overnight, with the tally standing at 1063, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control reported on September 15 morning.

Of the total, 691 were infected with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 domestically, including 551 linked with central Da Nang city since the latest outbreak began there on July 25.

As many as 926 patients have recovered while 35 died from complications related to the disease. Most of the fatalities were the elderly with serious underlying health conditions

Among those still under treatment, 13 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, 13 others twice and 19 thrice.

There are 33,605 people having close contact with confirmed cases or coming from pandemic-hit regions under quarantine at present.

The Health Ministry has called on residents to wear masks in public places, regularly wash hands with soap, avoid crowd gatherings, and install Bluezone app to receive infection risk alerts.

Two recovered patients in Quang Nam test positive for SARS-CoV-2

The Health Department of the central province of Quang Nam reported on September 14 that two recovered COVID-19 patients had recently tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus during self-quarantine after treatment.

They are Patients 549 and 550, both female and residing at Bao Thang Pagoda in Hoi An city’s Son Phong ward. They tested positive for the first time on August 1.

Patient 549, 55 years old, was discharged from the Quang Nam General Hospital on August 18 for 14 days of self-quarantine at the pagoda. She tested negative twice, on August 25 and 31. Her third test on September 13 was positive.

Patient 550, 75 years old, was treated at the Hue Central Hospital in neighbouring Thua Thien-Hue province and was released on August 27 for self-quarantine at Bao Thang Pagoda. She tested negative on September 3 and positive twice, on September 11 and 13.

Both women did not leave their residence or interact with anyone during quarantine. They are now quarantined at the Quang Nam General Hospital, with all people living at the pagoda being tested. The pagoda closed on August 1, so no related community transmissions have been recorded.

Da Nang removes COVID-19 checkpoints at gateways

The central city of Da Nang, the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus outbreak, has removed all checkpoints set up at its gateways after the COVID-19 outbreak was put under control.

The decision came into effect as of 12.00hrs September 14, according to an urgent telegram released by the Da Nang Municipal Department of Public Security.

Life has returned to normal in Da Nang following the containment of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. No new cases of community transmission have been detected in the city over the past days.

The removal of the checkpoints aims to facilitate economic development and human movement in Da Nang, as well as between Da Nang and other neighbouring localities.

Despite the disease being under control, the Da Nang administration has asked local police units to work closely with relevant forces to strictly manage all foreigners and Vietnamese citizens residing in the locality, promptly discover and quarantine those coming from epidemic hit areas.

The Da Nang administration had decided to establish eight checkpoints at gateways to the city since July 31 when the virus resurged in the locality. The checkpoints were designed to control, detect and prevent any people and vehicles entering or coming out of the city.

100-year-old woman enjoys full recovery from COVID-19

A further five novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients were discharged from Quang Nam Central General Hospital on September 12 after making a successful recovery from the disease, including a 100-year-old patient.

The elderly woman had previously tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on August 1. She then began to suffer from severe pneumonia caused by complications relating to COVID-19. In addition, she had previously been diagnosed with underlying illnesses, including heart failure and respiratory failure.

After undergoing treatment at hospital for over a month, the patient responded well to treatment and went on to test negative for the virus four times, therefore meeting criteria for release.

Furthermore, an additional four other patients were also discharged from the hospital after displaying no virus symptoms such as a fever, a cough, or shortness of breath.

At present, there are 13 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment in Quang Nam province.

More than 240 Vietnamese citizens brought home from Malaysia

More than 240 Vietnamese citizens from Malaysia were flown home on September 14 on a flight of Bamboo Airlines.

At Cam Ranh International Airport (Photo: VNA)

The flight was arranged by the Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, the carrier and authorities of Malaysia.

Passengers included pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions, under-18 children, workers with expired labour contracts, and other especially disadvantaged cases.

The Vietnamese Embassy sent its staff to the airport to assist them with boarding procedures.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, disease prevention measures were carried out during the flight. Upon landing at Cam Ranh airport in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, the flight crew and all passengers were given heath check-ups and quarantined in line with regulations.

In the future, more flights are set to be conducted to bring Vietnamese citizens with disadvantaged circumstances, depending on their need and quarantine capacity at home./.

113 illegal Chinese migrants returned via Lao Cai int’l border gate

Vietnamese authorities and police agencies returned 113 Chinese citizens, who illegally entered and stayed in Vietnam, via the Lao Cai International Border Gate in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, on September 14.

The repatriation was implemented by the provincial police in coordination with the Vietnam Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security, Ho Chi Minh City’s police and the Lao Cai International Border Gate’s border station.

The Immigration Management Department of the HCM City’s police detected the 113 illegal Chinese migrants during inspections from July 21 – August 5.

Southeast Asian nations report hundreds of COVID-19 related deaths

The Philippines reported 259 more deaths related to SARS-CoV-2 on September 14, raising the total number of fatalities in the country to 4,630.

The Philippine Ministry of Health said the country recorded 4,699 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing its tally to 265,888 – the highest in the Southeast Asian region.

On the same day, 3,141 new COVID-19 cases and 118 deaths were reported in Indonesia, making its total of infections and fatalities to 221,523 and 8,841, respectively.

Indonesia currently has so far had the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Singapore has begun distributing COVID-19 tracing devices to its citizens, with the aim of further improving the country's ability in the fight against COVID-19.

The electronic device called TraceTogether will complement the same-name contact-tracking app on smartphones that the Singaporean government has encouraged people to install.

On September 9, the Singaporean Health Ministry announced that from September 17, all travellers from India who are not Singaporeans and permanent residents will have to take a COVID-19 test before departing for Singapore.

Over 360 Vietnamese citizens flown home from Singapore

More than 360 Vietnamese citizens were brought home from Singapore on a flight of Pacific Airlines on September 14.

The flight was arranged by Vietnamese authorities, the Embassy of Vietnam in Singapore and the carrier, together with competent agencies of Singapore.

The passengers included children under 18, those with underlying health conditions and those in difficult circumstances.

The Vietnamese Embassy also sent its staff to the airport to assist them with boarding procedures.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, disease prevention measures were carried out during the flight. Upon landing at Can Tho International Airport in the Mekong Delta city of the same name, the flight crew and all passengers were given heath check-ups and quarantined in line with regulations.

In the future, more flights are set to be conducted to bring Vietnamese citizens with disadvantaged circumstances, depending on their need and quarantine capacity at home.