The new cases included one imported case in Quang Nam and 95 domestic infections, with Bac Ninh making up the most, at 34.

In addition, 32 other cases were detected in Bac Giang, 25 in HCMC, two in Lang Son and one each in Phu Tho and Hanoi. Up to 73 out of the 95 domestic cases were found at quarantine facilities or in areas under lockdown.

The 25 cases in HCMC included three having close contact with other Covid-19 patients, while the sources of infection of 22 others are under investigation.

The HCMC Center for Disease Control last night informed that 22 employees of the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases were infected with Covid-19, including 15 employees of the hospital’s administrative unit and six IT staff.

As for Covid-19 vaccines, the Ministry of Health has approved a Covid-19 vaccine developed by U.S.-based firm Pfizer and Germany-based BioNTech for emergency use.

The vaccine, named Comirnaty, is the fourth coronavirus vaccine approved by the Ministry of Health, following the United Kingdom's AstraZeneca, Russia's Sputnik V and China's Vero Cell.

The vaccine will be used under the instructions of the Ministry of Health. Vaccine distributors must cooperate with the ministry to offer the risk management for the vaccine in Vietnam.

The vaccine manufacturer shall coordinate with the ministry to assess the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in Vietnam.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, the first Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine batch would arrive in Vietnam from now until July.

In another development, Tuyen on June 12 said that the pandemic in Quang Ninh Province was expected to be put under control in the next 10 days.

With an intensive care unit including 100 beds sponsored by Sun Group, the province is capable of treating critical Covid-19 patients. The province has prepared response plans in case of 3,000 patients.

However, the province should speed up the tracing and testing work to early detect new cases and minimize the community transmission, Tuyen said, adding that Bac Ninh must not be negligent and should regularly check the anti-pandemic measures in industrial parks.

SGT

War invalid donates VND4.5 billion to Covid-19 vaccine fund

“I am a soldier. If I don’t die on the battlefield, I need to lead a meaningful life in peacetime,” said Le Van De, a war invalid in Hai Duong, explaining why he donated VND4.5 billion to the vaccine fund.