More than 340 Vietnamese citizens have returned home safely from the US and been quarantined upon their arrival, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On May 7 and 8, Vietnamese authorities and representative agencies in the US, Vietnam Airlines and relevant US agencies worked together to bring back home the citizens from San Francisco Airport.

The passengers included many children under 18 years old, overseas students who don’t have accommodation due to dormitory closures, the elderly, the sick and those living in difficult circumstances.

Upon arriving at Van Don Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh, the passengers and cabin crew members were quarantined in line with regulations.

To conduct the flight, the Vietnamese Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport, the Vietnamese Embassy and representative agencies in the US worked with domestic agencies and US authorities to assist the airline in completing procedures to bring home the citizens.

Many of the citizens had reportedly been stranded in San Francisco International Airport in recent times as they awaited flights to return home, with some stranded since March 22.

The Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco and other Vietnamese representative agencies in the US tried to assist stranded Vietnamese citizens in terms of accommodation, travelling and pandemic prevention measures.

In the coming days, more flights from other countries will bring back Vietnamese citizens home depending on the pandemic's developments, quarantine capacity of Vietnamese localities, and the demand of Vietnamese citizens living overseas./.

Vietnam records no new COVID-19 cases in community for 23 days

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 cases on May 9 morning, marking 23 straight days without any infections in the community, said the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The total number of COVID-19 cases remained at 288, including 148 imported ones who were quarantined righter after they entered Vietnam.

To date, 241 patients have been successfully cured, accounting for 84 percent of the total.

The remaining 47 patients have been treated at health establishments across the country. Of them, 10 were tested negative for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once and four others tested negative twice.

As many as 14,403 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entering Vietnam from the pandemic-hit regions have been quarantined, including 175 at hospitals, 6,145 at other establishments and 8,083 at home./.

Relapsed COVID-19 patients not contagious: experts

A COVID-19 patient recovered and was released from a hospital in northern Ninh Bình Province.

Experts in Việt Nam believe COVID-19 patients who test positive again after being given the all-clear are not contagious. 

According to Professor Nguyễn Văn Kính, former director, now senior expert of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, none of the relapse cases in Việt Nam show clinical symptoms. 

Patients, after being re-hospitalised, were healthy and did not need any treatment. All their following tests for SARS-CoV-2 had returned negative. 

Kính said all re-positive patients admitted to the hospital were given a viral culture but the virus did not grow. Patients got positive results possibly because the test detected the gene of the virus, not the active virus which is contagious.

The tests are taken using Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machines. 

“With RT-PCR, we use reagents to detect the specific gene segment of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, so it is basically the detection of the genetic code of the virus rather than the whole virus itself. To detect the presence of the virus, we have to do a genetic sequence,” said Kính. 

He said to know whether relapse cases could be contagious, their samples would have to be isolated and cultured. 

For all re-positive cases reported in Việt Nam, after cultured samples did not develop the virus, meaning previous RT-PCR test actually detected viral RNA fragments, not the actual virus, according to Kính 

“SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus that takes time to research on its pathogenesis and immune response. For relapses, we need further research on patients’ antibodies. However, in terms of public health, we do not have to worry about these cases,” he said.

Việt Nam has recorded a total number of 18 relapsed cases so far. 

Hospitals in Đồng Nai expand healthcare services amid COVID-19

Health staff at a hospital in Đồng Nai Province check body temperatures and provide counselling about COVID-19 to patients and their parents. — Photo syt.dongnai.gov.vn

Hospitals in the southern province of Đồng Nai are providing more healthcare services such as tests and treatment for people at their home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Phan Văn Huyên, director of Long Khánh Regional General Hospital in the province’s Long Khánh city, people can call the hospital hotline and the hospital will send health staff to provide counselling at their homes.

If they need tests, the health staff will take samples for testing at the hospital. The hospital will send the test results to patients’ emails and then connect them to doctors for counselling.    

The cost for the healthcare service is VNĐ100,000 (US$4.2) more than a hospital visit.

The service is especially designed for seniors who have severe diseases and cannot go to the hospital, or for those who have illnesses but would prefer to not go to the hospital to avoid infections. 

The hospital has received up to nearly 100 calls each day to book these services.

Đồng Nai Children’s Hospital has a customer service division that  calls parents to remind them of their children's follow-up exams and to ask about patients’ health and provide counselling.

Nguyễn Thị Ly Ly, head of the cardiovascular diseases department at the hospital, said that Wednesdays and Thursdays are scheduled for patients who have follow-up exams.

However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents have not brought their children for follow-up exams.

Trương Thị Tình of the province’s Long Thành District said she was reluctant to take her child to the hospital, so the hospital’s health staff called and scheduled another appointment for his follow-up exam.

Doctors at Đồng Nai General Hospital and Long Thành Regional General Hospital are giving two months' worth of medicine instead of one week.

The provincial Department of Health has instructed private hospitals and health clinics to have plans to store medicine and medical materials.

Eight more COVID-19 patients given all-clear

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Eight more COVID-19 patients have been given the all-clear, bringing the total number of cured patients to 241, the treatment sub-section under the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said on May 8 afternoon.

Among the newly recovered patients, one was treated at the Traditional Medicine-Function Rehabilitation Hospital of the south-central province of Binh Thuan, and seven at the second branch of the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.

Those patients will continue to be quarantined and have their health monitored in the next 14 days.

Vietnam had recorded no new infections in community in COVID-19 for 22 consecutive days as of the morning of May 8.

There were 17 new imported cases on May 7, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 288, with zero fatalities.

All of the new patients reported on May 7 evening are Vietnamese nationals returning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a Vietnam Airlines flight. They include a new born baby.

Vietnam presents medical supplies to Japan

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung hands over the token of the 140,000 medical face masks to Japan's representative

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung on May 8 handed over the token of the 140,000 medical face masks from the Vietnamese Government and people to their counterparts in Japan.

The gift, the new batch of medical supplies, was made in accordance with an agreement between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Japanese counterpart Abe Shinzo during their May 4 phone talks.

Before the hand-over ceremony, Deputy FM Trung received new Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio.

Trung emphasised that as strategic partners of each other, Vietnam and Japan have actively shared information and cooperated closely in fighting COVID-19 within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, including ASEAN 3.

He spoke highly of measures taken by the Japanese government to cope with the disease, while sharing his sympathy over losses caused by COVID-19 in Japan.

He thanked the Japanese government for supporting Vietnam in combating the disease as well as its assistance for the Vietnamese community in Japan, while expressing his belief that Japan will soon defeat the epidemic.

Deputy FM Trung called for the ambassador’s close coordination to promote the extensive strategic partnership in all fields between Vietnam and Japan.

For his part, Ambassador Yamada conveyed deep thanks to the Government and people of Vietnam for thier valuable assistance, saying that the Japanese side will effectively use the gift.

He expressed his admiration for Vietnam's response to the pandemic, saying that Vietnam is a model in preventing and controlling the disease.

Japan will continue to closely work with Vietnam in the fight, support Vietnam in promoting socioeconomic development, as well as strengthen cooperation at international and regional forums, especially in the context that Vietnam serves as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, he said.

He promised to do his best to contribute to promoting friendship and cooperation between the two nations./.

Export of drugs used for COVID-19 treatment resumed

The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) under the Ministry of Health (MoH) has decided to allow enterprises to export drugs used to treat COVID-19 after a month-long suspension.

The disease situation has improved so the export of the drugs can be resumed, it said.

Earlier, on April 16, the DAV issued a document requesting enterprises engaged in manufacturing and exporting of medicines to suspend the export of 37 items to ensure there would be enough for domestic use.

The drugs were considered by the MoH as necessary for quarantine and treatment of COVID-19.

They include antibiotics, fluids, dialysis solutions and antipyretic namely Immunoglobulin 5 percent, Vancomycin 500 mg, ceftriaxone, levotloxacin 250mg/50ml, and ceftazidime./.

COVID-19: Indonesia loosens ban on air travel

Quick COVID-19 testing in Jakarta, Indonesia

The Indonesian Ministry of Transport on May 8 announced its decision to resume air services, but at a limited level, after two weeks the country banned air and sea travel to curb the further spread of the COVID-19.

According to the ministry’s spokesperson Adita Irawati, those who are working in the fields of security, defense and health service, or having urgent health reasons will be allowed to travel by air if they have a health certificate confirming negative for the novel corona virus SARS-CoV-2.

The day earlier, Garuda Indonesia Airlines resumed domestic flights, while other airlines such as Lion Air, Wings Air and Batik Air, planed to resume domestic flights from May 10.

Indonesia has so far recorded more than 13,000 COVID-19 cases./.

Vietnam Coast Guard supports needy fishermen

Vietnam Coast Guard supports needy fishermen.

The Vietnam Coast Guard High Command and authorities of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces on May 8 presented gifts to fishermen in difficult circumstances in the two central coastal localities.

More than 400 gift packages, including cash, rice and face masks, were handed over to the fishermen, residing in Tam Giang and Tam Quang communes in Quang Nam’s Nui Thanh district, and Binh Dong and Binh Thanh communes in Quang Ngai’s Binh Son district.

Major General Doan Bao Quyet, Deputy Political Commissar of the Vietnam Coast Guard, said apart from raising the awareness of residents in 28 coastal cities and provinces about COVID-19 prevention and control, the coast guard force has called for material and spiritual support of organisations and individuals for the combat.

The force will make great efforts to help authorities and people in coastal localities deal with consequences of the disease, promote socio-economic development and consolidate national defence and security, he said./.

Action month for workplace safety and hygiene, worker’s month launched

The action month for workplace safety and hygiene and worker’s month 2020 were launched at a ceremony held by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) in Hanoi on May 8.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of VGCL Nguyen Dinh Khang proposed trade unions at all levels and union members and workers nationwide promote a spirit of creative emulation and implement specific activities to improve productivity, ensure workplace safety, and maintain employment and stable incomes.

He also urged trade unions to focus on implementing solutions to support and protect workers facing difficulties and those who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially female workers who are pregnant, raising children, or sick.

Khang called on union members and workers to continue their efforts to overcome the difficulties and contribute to defeating COVID-19.

This year’s action month will focus on measures to promote improvements in working conditions and controlling risks in occupational safety and hygiene in the workplace.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung asked relevant ministries, departments, localities, enterprises, and workers to implement regulations on workplace safety and hygiene as well as COVID-19 prevention measures.

He also stressed the need to proactively enhance Industry 4.0 solutions in assessing and controlling risks from unsafe and unhygienic practices in the workplace./.

Vietnam shares post-pandemic development policies

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau shared post-COVID-19 development policies that Vietnam is carrying out at an online seminar held by the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry of India (ICMEI) in New Delhi on May 7.

The Vietnamese diplomat updated participants on Vietnam's experience in containing the COVID-19 outbreak, saying that Vietnam has succeeded in the "first fight” against the disease with no deaths, and nearly 90 percent of the patients recovered.

He highlighted the importance of comprehensive coordination among sectors in implementing quarantine and social distancing measures as well as people’s strict compliance with those rules, saying that this has helped Vietnam achieve positive results in the fight against the disease.

Apart from efforts and measures to minimise the influence of COVID-19 on its industries, Vietnam is also gradually resuming domestic business activities, he noted.

On May 9, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will have an online dialogue with businesses across the country to seek solutions to boost production and business activities in the coming time, Chau said.

According to the World Bank, along with China and India, Vietnam will be one of the countries recording strong recovery after the pandemic, he noted./.

HCM City friendship union installs “rice ATM” in Binh Tan

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) on May 8 presented a “rice ATM” (rice dispenser) and 16 tonnes of the grain from the US non-government organisation (NGO) Project Vietnam Foundation (PVF) to support those in need affected by the COVID-19.

The machine was installed in Binh Hung Hoa ward in Binh Tan district - an area with a large number of migrant workers from other provinces.

It is expected that after distributing the 16 tonnes of rice, the union will then coordinate with the PVF and other sponsors to supply more to poor residents in the area.

HUFO Vice President Tran Hoang Khanh Van said it has worked with foreign NGOs and businesses to provide financial assistance, medical equipment, face masks, and essential items to health facilities and the disadvantaged as well as general consulates around the city.

It will soon present medical supplies to the Japanese, US, and Russian general consulates, she added./.

Medical supplies for Vietnamese in Europe to cope with COVID-19

The Flamingo Holding Group presents medical supplies to help overseas Vietnamese in Europe cope with COVID-19.

The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a ceremony in Hanoi on May 8 to receive medical supplies from the Flamingo Holding Group to assist overseas Vietnamese in Russia, the UK, and France fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vice chairman of the committee Luong Thanh Nghi said Vietnamese communities abroad are an inseparable part of the nation.

He greatly appreciated the invaluable support of individuals and organisations at home and abroad towards overseas Vietnamese, especially those in the UK, France, and Russia.

A range of domestic organisations and individuals have donated medical equipment and food in support of Vietnamese expatriates affected by the pandemic, he noted.

In response to a call from Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Vietnamese communities in foreign countries also raised over 33 billion VND (over 1.4 million USD) and presented medical supplies to help the homeland’s COVID-19 prevention and control efforts.

At the ceremony, Nghi received 43,000 face masks and medicines for overseas Vietnamese in Russia, as well as 10,000 face masks for those in the UK and 10,000 face masks for those in France./.