A worker sprays disinfectant at a classroom of the Viet Duc High School in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem district on February 2

Healthcare facilities at the district level and higher levels are capable of treating patients infected with COVID-19.

As of February 21 afternoon, 15 of the 16 patients with COVID-19 in Vietnam had been cured and discharged from hospital. The 15th case, a Vietnamese American, at HCM City’s Tropical Diseases Hospital repeatedly tested negative from February 12 – 17 and was discharged on February 21.

Vietnam still has 28 suspected cases and nearly 5,650 people in close contact with those who may have the virus or those returning from epidemic areas. All of them are under quarantine.

By February 21 noon, there are 76,727 confirmed cases in 29 countries and territories worldwide and the number of deaths reached 2,247. In China alone, 75,465 cases have been reported with 2,236 deaths.

New cases may be appeared in the coming time, but with the rising temperature and effective treatment plans in place, Vietnam is capable of containing the outbreak and ensuring safety for economic and cultural events, said Tran Dac Phu, former director of the Health Ministry’s Preventive Health Department.

Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung noted the World Health Organisation (WHO), international organisations and diplomatic corps have recommended that in the current situation, Vietnam can soon think about reopening schools.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do said the ministry is considering to allow students to go back to school starting from March 2, given that longer shutdown would causing difficulties for teaching and learning in this 2019-2020 academic year.

The ministry will accelerate communication campaigns to educate students on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, Do added.

He moved on to say that the ministry will work with the People’s Committees of HCM City and Hanoi on February 22 to discuss HCM City’s proposal to extend school break until the end of March.

US lauds Vietnam’s medical capacity

The US stands ready to cooperate with Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the fight against the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), US officials said at a recent meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country.

The meeting, which took place on February 19, saw the participation of Erika Elvander, Director of the Asia-Pacific Office under the US Department of Health and Human Services, and Mitchell Wolfe, Chief Medical Officer of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The US officials applauded Vietnam’s medical capacity, especially in the control of the epidemic.

Vietnamese leaders, from central to grassroots levels, have issued timely instructions and taken comprehensive, drastic measures to combat the disease, they said, lauding Vietnam’s efforts in improving public awareness of the virus.

The US side expressed its belief that with a good medical infrastructure system and a widespread vaccination network, Vietnam will effectively combat the epidemic.

The US officials also praised Vietnam’s close, effective cooperation in the work as the country has regularly exchanged relevant information and experience.

US scientists are joining efforts in the study of COVID-19 to seek preventive measures, they said, adding that some US laboratories have developed a COVID-19 vaccine that could be ready for human testing within two months and for use within six months to one year.

Regarding ASEAN-US cooperation, the US side said Vietnam, in its capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020, has promptly responded to COVID-19 and raised initiatives in regional cooperation against the illness.

The US Department of Health and Human Services is willing to step up medical collaboration with the ASEAN, particularly in the virus fight, through the ASEAN-US mechanism and at international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The CDC plans to send a working group to Vietnam in March to discuss cooperation and the establishment of a CDC office in the Southeast Asian nation, the US officials said.

They added that US offices, including the International Reagent Resources, is ready to share their COVID-19 research outcomes, exchange experts and provide test kits and personal protection equipment for Vietnam to help the country improve is capacity to fight the disease.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese side briefed the US officials on Vietnam’s prevention and control of COVID-19, and thanked the US for its cooperation over the past time.

The Vietnamese officials suggested the US implement more projects to help Vietnam and ASEAN enhance their medical capacity, while further facilitating economic and trade ties as well as people-to-people exchanges, especially at a time when Vietnam and the US are celebrating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1995-2020), and Vietnam serves as ASEAN Chair 2020.

15th Covid-19 patient in Vietnam discharged from hospital

The 73-year-old patient was admitted to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases in District 5 on January 31 with symptoms including a fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Tests later showed he was positive for the novel coronavirus, making him the seventh confirmed case in Vietnam.

The man is the oldest covid-19 patient in Vietnam and the third confirmed in Ho Chi Minh City. Earlier, two Chinese patients, who are father and son, were cured and discharged from hospital.

By Feb. 21, 15/16 covid-19 patients in Vietnam have been released from hospital. In Ho Chi Minh City, 30 people were in quarantine at a makeshift hospital in the suburban district of Cu Chi. No confirmed or suspected cases have been reported.

COVID-19: Quang Ninh allows the eligible to go home for further quarantine

People entering Vietnam via the Mong Cai International border gate in the northern province of Quang Ninh are allowed to return home for further quarantine as they tested negative for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after three-day quarantine in Mong Cai city.

The provincial People’s Committee has ordered the local Military Command to join hands with the Health Department and Mong Cai city People’s Committee to bring the people home on February 21. Most of the citizens come from northern localities.

Earlier, Quang Ninh province sent a document to cities and localities in the north, asking for coordination to receive those eligible for home quarantine.

According to the provincial Health Department, as of 7:00 on February 21, the total number of people under observation for COVID-19 testing in Quang Ninh province was 165, all of whom tested negative for the novel virus.

Currently, there are 299 people put in quarantine in the locality.

Around 15-20 Vietnamese citizens make their entry into the country through the Mong Cai border gate./. VNA

Covid-19 could lead to restructuring of Vietnam tourism industry

The Ministry of Planning and Investmetn (MPI) estimates that Vietnam’s tourism sector may lose $2.3 billion worth of revenue from foreign investors if Covid-19 lasts until the end of Q1 and $5 billion if it continues through Q2.

Covid-2019: what can Vietnam’s scientists do?

The process of coping with the Covid-2019 epidemic kicked off at an emergency session chaired by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac on January 30, the first working day after Tet holiday.