Vietnam recorded no new COVID-19 cases between 6 pm on September 17 and 6 am on September 18, according the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

A residential area under quarantine to prevent COVID-19 spread in Hai Duong. The quarantine has ended. (Photo: VNA)

The total number of COVID-19 infections remained at 1,066.

The total number of recovery stood at 940. The fatalities remain at 35.

Among patients under treatment, 14 have tested negative once, seven negative twice and 19 negative thrice.

As many as 31,319 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entered Vietnam from pandemic-hit regions are being quarantined nationwide, including 423 in hospitals, 15,860 in concentrated quarantine establishments and 15,036 at home.

Vietnam shares its effective financial mechanisms in COVID-19 response

The Joint Ministers of Finance and Health Symposium on Universal Health Coverage in Asia and the Pacific, with the theme “COVID-19 and Beyond”, was held online by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Hanoi on September 17, with the participation of various countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

ADB representatives hailed Vietnam’s success in dealing with COVID-19 and securing socio-economic development.

Along with stable macro-economic conditions and inflation under control, the consumer price index has fallen in recent months and the monetary market, credit and foreign exchange basically remained stable.

In his speech at the event, which focused on the financial mechanism applied in Vietnam to respond to COVID-19 amid lower State budget revenue, Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung said Vietnam has prioritised budget funds for preventive medicine.

It has spent at least 30 percent of its health care budget on preventive medicine each year, he said.

The minister underlined that, in Vietnam, the State budget covers most public health services, while those for health examinations and treatment are covered by compulsory health insurance. The primary healthcare fee is jointly paid by health insurance, the people, and the State budget, he said, adding that the country is speeding up the restructuring of the State healthcare budget to better care for people, especially those from ethnic minority groups or in mountainous regions, border areas, and islands.

The minister clarified that Vietnam has optimised all locally-available resources for fighting COVID-19. As early as the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the world, the Government directed ministries and sectors to build response plans, and ensure sufficient funding and human resources for preventive measures, quarantine, and treatment following the principle of four on-the-spot resources.

He stressed that Vietnam has persistently implemented the twin goals of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and removing difficulties for production and business, thus maintaining macro-economic stability, preventing disruption of socio-economic activities, reining in inflation, and ensuring social welfare.

Specifically, a 62-trillion VND package was launched to support people affected by COVID-19, along with reductions, exemptions, and payment extensions on fees and taxes, to ease difficulties for enterprises. Administrative procedures were also reformed, while the business environment has been improved.

At the same time, Vietnam also worked to ensure the supply of essential medical supplies and equipment. Import taxes on goods serving pandemic prevention were suspended.

The minister proposed that Health and Finance Ministries of other countries continue to support Vietnam in enhancing the capacity of preventive medicine, while sharing information and experience in treatment and vaccine research, helping the country promote sustainable growth.

Three imported cases of COVID-19, four recoveries reported on Thursday evening

Three more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Việt Nam, all of them imported cases who arrived in the country on the same flight from Uzbekistan on September 2.

The patients were taken to quarantine upon arrival at Nội Bài International Airport. The patients are aged between 37 and 41. They are from the provinces of Quảng Bình, Đắk Lắk and Bình Định.

The three tested negative on September 3 and 4. But the second tests on September 15 and 16 were positive for the virus.

Currently, the patients are being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hà Nội’s Đông Anh District.

As of Thursday evening, the total number of cases stood at 1,066.

On the same day, four COVID-19 patients were given the all-clear, of whom two were released from Hoà Vang Clinic in Đà Nẵng City and two others were from the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hà Nội’s Đông Anh District.

The patients will continue quarantining at home following protocols of the Ministry of Health after being discharged from hospital.

Việt Nam has so recorded 940 recoveries and 35 fatalities related to the coronavirus.

Nearly 280 citizens brought home from Europe

Nearly 280 Vietnamese citizens, stranded in 10 European countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were brought home on September 16-17 on a Vietnam Airlines flight.

The flight was arranged by Vietnamese authorities and representative organisations in Europe, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, and authorities of the 10 European nations.

The Vietnamese Consulate General in Frankfurt sent its staff to the airport to assist the passengers with boarding procedures.

In a bid to ensure safety for citizens as well as prevent the spread of COVID-19, security, safety and hygiene measures were strictly implemented during the flight. The flight crew and all passengers were brought to quarantine sites upon their arrival at Nội Bài International Airport in Hà Nội.

More repatriation flights will be conducted to bring Vietnamese citizens home, depending on their needs and quarantine capacity in Việt Nam. 

50 returnees from Singapore test negative for SARS-CoV-2

A total of 50 returning Vietnamese citizens from Singapore have recorded negative test results for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to Doan Tan Buu, vice chairman of the Dong Thap provincial People's Committee.

All of the arrivals remain in good health and are displaying no signs of the virus, with no symptoms such as a fever, a cough, or shortness of breath.

According to Buu, after undergoing an initial test on September 15, each of the returnees will be tested for a second time before they complete a compulsory 14-day quarantine period in line with regulations aimed at halting the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

This marks the sixth time that Dong Thap province has received a large group of repatriated Vietnamese citizens following directions issued by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Since the detection of a fresh COVID-19 outbreak in the country on July 25, the quarantine area located in the city of Sa Dec has received a total of 693 Vietnamese nationals returing from the UK, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan (China).

At present, the southern province has recorded no COVID-19 infection cases among the local community.