Medical workers clean COVID-19 patient rooms

The latest case is a 52-year-old French man, who arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on March 10 on flight TK162. He visited Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho city, Hoi An (Quang Nam province) and Hue (Thua Thien-Hue province) from March 10-16.

He then travelled to Ninh Binh province, and had sample test. His sample was sent to the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and the result was positive.

He is being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Disease No. 2 for quarantine, and in stable health condition.

The 69th case is a 30-year-old German man who entered Vietnam through Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport on March 13 on Flight SU290. He visited a number of places in Hanoi from March 13-15. Currently his health is stable.

The 70th is a 19-year-old resident of Hanoi and a student in the UK who arrived at Noi Bai airport on March 16 on Flight TK164, and he is now in stable conditions.

The 71st is also a 19-year-old resident of Hanoi and a student in the UK who arrived at Noi Bai airport on March 16 on Flight TK164, and her health is stable now.

The 72nd is a 25-year-old French woman, a passenger on the flight from France to Noi Bai on March 9 that saw a positive case. She visited a number of places in Hanoi and northern Ninh Binh province. Her health is now stable.

The 73rd is an 11-year-old boy from northern Hai Duong province who came back to Vietnam on Flight VN0054 from the UK on March 9, and now in stable health conditions.

The 74th is a 23-year-old male resident of the northern province of Phu Tho who came back to Vietnam on Flight VN0018 from France on March 16. He health conditions are now stable.

Lastly, the 75th is a 40-year-old female resident of Ho Chi Minh City in the south who visited London on March 4 but did not contact with any COVID-19 patient. She arrived back to Vietnam on March 15 on Flight VN50 without showing any symptom of the disease. However, her sample tested positive on March 17 and 18, and her health conditions are stable.

Of the total 76 cases, 16 have completely recovered. 

Around 90,000 doctors mobilised for Covid-19 fight

The Ministry of Health has mobilised around 90,000 doctors and 16,000 final-year medical students for the fight against Covid-19.

Vietnam’s fight against Covid-19 has entered a new stage as the country received a large influx of Vietnamese nationals returning from the virus-hit countries such as the US and European countries.

The Ministry of Health has mobilised roughly 90,000 doctors; 125,000 nurses and some 16,000 medical students in the final year for their studies. The students will be trained for the quarantine and how to take testing samples.

At a recent meeting about Covid-19 prevention and control, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and localities to prepare more quarantine areas. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health needs to prepare for Covid-19 battle.

According to Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, Nguyen Duc Chung, the city will use a building for students in Hoang Mai District as a quarantine area for around 2,000 people. Some vocational training schools in Phu Xuyen, Chuong My, Me Linh and Soc Son districts will also be turned into quarantine areas.

Hanoi has planned to buy medical equipment to ensure the treatment for the scenario of around 1,000 Covid-19 patients.

Six hospitals namely Bac Thang Long, Dong Da, Thanh Nhan, Duc Giang, Xanh Pon and Ha Dong can ensure 1,000 sick-beds in total.

The city has also set up five urgent response teams for around the clock duty.

Ministry announces latest flights carrying COVID-19 cases

The Ministry of Health on March 18 night announced two flights that landed in Vietnam over the last few days carrying passengers who have since tested positive for the acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

They are SilkAir flight MI632 from Singapore to central Da Nang city landing on March 14 and Vietnam Airlines flight VN54 from London to Hanoi arriving on March 13.

The ministry has called on all passengers on these flights to immediately contact the disease control centres in cities and provinces so they can be monitored accordingly.

Ticket agents for the flights have been instructed to inform all passengers.

Furthermore, passengers on Singapore Airline flight SQ323 from Amsterdam (the Netherlands) to Singapore on March 14 who then took a connecting flight to Vietnam have also been instructed to contact authorities to receive appropriate medical guidance.

As of March 18 night, Vietnam recorded 76 infection cases, of which 16 have been fully recovered.

Public transport takes measures to prevent COVID-19 spread

After each passenger gets out, the taxi driver usually spends time cleaning the interior of the vehicle. Most of the objects and places that customers are exposed to in the car are thoroughly disinfected with alcohol.

In the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic, in addition to the provision of disinfectant hand sanitizers and face masks, a number of taxi companies in the coastal city are also regularly disinfecting their vehicles.

Meanwhile, at Da Nang Bus Station, the garage is also required to strictly follow epidemic prevention measures, as well as frequently reminding passengers to wash their hands and disinfect their masks when boarding.

As the COVID-19 epidemic develops, the initiative of transport units will contribute to preventing the spread of the disease in the community.

International media hail Vietnam’s response to COVID-19

India’s website scoopwhoop.com published an article on March 17 hailing Vietnam as one of the most successful stories in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia, besides Singapore.

According to the article, Vietnam proved effective response to the outbreak and is one of the most praised countries in the effort.

The country launched two apps, one for Vietnamese citizens and the other for foreigners living in Vietnam, where they can update their health status so that the government could have a stable database.

The second measure is the production of SARS-CoV-2 test kits meeting World Health Organisation standards.

The third is the launch of mobile sterilisation chambers where disinfectants are poured on the body from all sides, cleaning 90 percent of bacteria and viruses.

Earlier, the Diplomat newswire also ran a story featuring the Vietnamese Government’s efforts against the epidemic, saying that the government always puts health and well-being of citizens to the foremost.

In such spirit, it has publicised information about the outbreak, thus winning public trust, the newswire said.

COVID-19: Body temperature equipment granted to Vinh Phuc

The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) – Vinh Phuc II branch handed over 130 body temperature equipment products worth 200 million VND (8,600 USD) to schools in Phuc Yen city, the northern province of Vinh Phuc on March 18.

Speaking at the event, permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Duy Thanh lauded the bank branch’s contributions to social welfare for the safety of local community, especially amid the complicated developments of COVID-19 epidemic.

Recently, trade unions of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, the Vietnam National Coal – Mineral Industries Corporation, the Vietnam Railways Corporation, the Vietnam Rubber Group, and the Shipbuilding Industry Corporation have granted face masks and antiseptic fluid valued at 500 million VND to the province, which have been sent to industrial zones and schools to fight the epidemic.

The Shinwon Ebenzer Vietnam Co.Ltd and the Vina Korea Co.Ltd at Khai Quang industrial zone in Vinh Yen city also handed over 400,000 cloth masks to local residents in the effort.

As of March 18 night, Vietnam confirmed a total of 76 infection cases, 16 of them have fully recovered.

PetroVietnam grants aid to Health Ministry to fight COVID-19

The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) presented 5 billion VND (217,000 USD) to the Health Ministry in Hanoi on March 18 to support the fight against COVID-19 epidemic.

At the event, the Health Ministry handed over the sum to the Transport Ministry and the people’s committees of Quang Ninh and Hung Yen provinces.

PetroVietnam General Director Le Manh Hung said the group earmarked the sum from its social welfare fund for 2020 to help the community.

The Health Ministry is reviewing the list of ministries, agencies and localities in need of support, initially in the fight against the epidemic, and further attention to care for people’s health in the long term.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam stands at 68 now, 16 of them have been discharged from hospital following their full recovery. VNA/VNN