Coronavirus Updates, March 19: The disease outbreak still in control with two patients got the first negative test

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March 18, 2020 | 10:03
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To the end of March 19, the global infections and deaths have raised to in turn 218,389 and 8,937. Italy is considered the EU biggest COVID-19 pandemic epicenter with the second highest total of infections and deaths in the world while China has recorded no any new infections today since its outbreak.

Vietnam recorded no any new infections today, the total infections to 76 cases, two of them Case 32 and Case 17 have tested negative for the first, 16 among competely recovered and discharged.

coronavirus updates march 20 the disease outbreak still in control with two patients got the first negative test

On the evening of March 18, eight new cases of COVID-19 infection were recorded in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health announced. Earlier, 16 patients were cured and discharged from the hospitals.

coronavirus updates march 20 the disease outbreak still in control with two patients got the first negative test
Health worker in protective clothing sprays disinfectant. Photo: Hoang Manh Thang

8 new cases of Covid-19

The 69th case: a male patient, 30 years old, German tourist, temporarily staying in Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi. The patient entered Noi Bai airport on March 13 on the flight SU290. From March 13 to March 15, patients went to several locations in Hanoi.

On March 15, the patient had a fever and went to some medical facilities for examination, then he was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh, Hanoi. On March 16, he was tested for COVID-19, the result showed he was positive for SARS-CoV-2. Currently, the patient is isolated at the Dong Anh Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in a stable health condition.

The 70th case: a male patient, 19 years old, addresses at Thanh Xuan, Hanoi. The patient is an international student in the UK, entering Noi Bai airport on March 16 on the flight TK164. He is being treated at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, in stable health condition.

People in close contact with the patient have been quarantined and tested for coronavirus.

The 71st case: A Female patient, 19 years old, addresses at Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi. The patient is an international student in the UK, entering Noi Bai airport on March 16 on the same flight with the 70th patient.

She is being quarantined at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, in stable health condition.

People in close contact with the patient have been quarantined and tested for coronavirus.

The 72nd case: a female patient, 25 years old, French nationality. The patient was a passenger on a flight from France to Noi Bai airport on March 9. The patient was the girlfriend of a positive case No. 60.

The patient had travelled some places in Hanoi and Ninh Binh.

On March 15, the patient returned to Hanoi and was placed in isolation at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases. She was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Currently, the patient is isolated at Dong Anh Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, her health is stable.

The 73rd case: a male patient, 11 years old, addresses in Thanh Mien District, Hai Duong province. The patient returned to Vietnam on the flight numbered VN54 on March 9.

On March 13, the patient was put in isolation at the center for disease control in Hai Duong province

The 74th case: a male patient, 23 years old, residing in Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province. The patient returned to Vietnam on the flight VN0018 on March 16. After landing at the airport, the patient was held isolated in a centralized area of ​​Bac Ninh province and tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, the patients is isolated in Bac Ninh General Hospital, in stable health condition.

The 75th case: a female patient, 40 years old, address in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. On March 4, the patient traveled from Vietnam to London, England, visiting relatives and staying there without having contact with any COVID-19 patients. On March 15, she returned to Vietnam on a flight of Vietnam Airline numbered VN50.

Upon entry into Vietnam, the patient did not have any symptoms of COVID-19. She then was placed quarantined at Cu Chi field hospital. On March 17, she was tested for Sars-COV2 and was positive for the virus.

The 76th case: a male patient, 52 years old, of French nationality. The patient is a passenger on the flight TK162, entering Tan Son Nhat International Airport on March 10.

Between March 10-16, the patients traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Hoi An and Hue. When he arrived in Ninh Binh, he was tested for COVID-19, the esults were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Currently, the patient is being isolated at the Central Hospital for Tropical Disease in Dong Anh, Hanoi, in stable health condition.

Thus, on March 18, Vietnam had 10 new cases positive for SARS-CoV-2, raising the total to 76.

Vietnam suspends all travel visa to limit the spread of coronavirus

Due to the increasing number of passengers infected with COVID-19 on flights that enter Vietnam recently, the Prime Minister decided to propose a suspension of visas to travelers from all countries, to limit the spread of the virus.

The decision is effective from March 18 and lasts for 30 days.

Vietnam has recorded the total of 68 Covid-19 infectious cases , 17 among completely recovered up to now.

coronavirus updates march 20 the disease outbreak still in control with two patients got the first negative test
The quarantined are for Covid-19 infection in Hochiminh General Hospital of Tropical Diseases (Photo:VNT)

"The No 32 patient" was confirmed negative for the first test

Dr Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Director of General Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hochiminh city on March 18 said that "The No 32 patient" used be lung damaged and high fever, but today she was tested negative for the fist time with her lung, ears and throat.

She is in a good health status and able to eat and drink in normal without fever, less cough and breath by herself.

" Her X-ray lung shows the normal sign and stop taking antibiotics" Chau said. She is estimated to be discharged in next few days.

She lives in London, England and went to Milan (Italy) joining the week of fashion on 21-23 Feb, meeting "the 17 case". She went to see the doctor when showing the symtomps of respiratiory disease. On 9 March, she was taken back to Hochiminh city by the private flight and absolutely kept in quarantine the whole itinerary.

coronavirus updates march 20 the disease outbreak still in control with two patients got the first negative test
( Photo source: phapluat)

The 68th patient was confirmed positive for Covid-19 in Vietnam

Case 68: male, 41 years old, American nationality with his Vietnamese wife, addressing in Da Nang city.

He departed abroad on Feb 11 and went to some countries such as: India, Spain, Morocco, Swiss, Germany, Hungary and Netherlands.

He left Amsterdam ( Netherlands) at 11.25am by the flight numbered SQ323 on March 13 and landed Singapore at 05.55am on March 14.

On March 14, the man departed Singapore at 09:15am to arrive Danang international airport by the flight numbered MI632, 15F seat at 11.00 am.

The man got health declaration at the airport and temporarily quarantined there, then he was moved to the isolated area in 199 Hospital at 14:00 pm on the same day.

He was tested in the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang and cofirmed positive at 09:00am on 18 March 9 today).

Covid-19 impacts: Vietnam aviation suffers $1.3 billion

Vietnamese carriers have lost more than VND30 trillion ($1.3 billion) in revenues as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the transport ministry estimates.

Vietnam Airlines has estimated that the number of passengers it carries could decline by 2.5 million this year, leading to a revenue fall of VND12 trillion ($519 million).

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has envisioned two Covid-19 impact scenarios for Vietnam’s aviation market in 2020. In the first scenario, where the pandemic is contained before April, carriers in the country would handle a total of 67 million passengers, down 15 percent year-on-year, said Dinh Viet Thang, director of CAAV.

coronavirus updates march 20 the disease outbreak still in control with two patients got the first negative test
Tan Son Nhat Airport in Saigon is left deserted. Photo: Thanhniennews

However, if the pandemic is only contained in June, the number of air passengers is predicted to fall 22 percent year-on-year to 61 million, including 10 million foreign visitors.

Vietnam confirmed more 6 people tested posivtive for SARS-CoV-2

Late time on 17 March, Ministry of Health announced more 5 Covid-10 positive cases.

According to report of National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on 17 March, there were 2 patients there tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 as follows:

Case 62: male, 18 years old, living in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. He was a student returning Vietnam from the UK on the Vietnam Airlines flight 16 March, landing at Vandon airport. He and some contacted others are beeing kept in quaratine in Vietnam - Swizeland hospital with good health status.

Case 63: female, 20 years old, addresses at C2, Madarin Garden, Hoang Minh Giam str, Trung Hoa, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, also a student in the UK, entering Vietnam on 15 March flight TG564, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. She was isolated in National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh.

The other 3 remains were reported positive for SARS-CoV-2 on 17 March by the Pasteus Institute in Hochiminh city.

Case 64: female, 36 years old, addresses at 2 ward, No 8 district, Hochiminh city, with history of Hepatitis B infection, returning Vietnam from Swiss and Dubai on 12 March No EK392 flight from Swiss transitted Dubai to Vietnam Tan Son Nhat airport with her boyfriend who then went to Hong Kong. After confirmed positive for Covid-19, she was kept in quarantined area and in good health condition.

Case 65: female, 28 years old, addressed at 7 ward, Go Vap district, Hochiminh city, working in TOTO Vietnam ltd at No 1A, Pham Ngoc Thach str, Ben Nghe ward, No 1 district with the past history of good health. She had worked and contacted with the Case 45,48 on March 7, 10 before showing the symtomps of fever, short breath, cough and was quarantined in the field hospital in Cu Chi.

Case 66: female, 21 years old, living at Park View building, no 107 Nguyen Duc Canh str, Phu My Hung , no 7 district. She flied from the USA ( Pennsylvania - Philadenphia) to Toronto - Canada, transitted in Taiwan and returned Vietnam on 16 March on the flight numbered BR, 6G seat - 385 Eva airline. She showed no any signs of coronavirus infection when entering but tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by Pasteur Institute in Hochiminh city.

Case 67: male, 36 years old in Van Lam 3, Phuoc Lam, Ninh Thuan, contacting with the case 63 and returning Vietnam from Malaysia, confirmed today 18 March by Pateur Institute.

At the same time, according to VNA, the case 18 was confirmed recovered from covid-19 infection by Dr Chu Thi Giang, Vice director of Ninh Binh General Hospital on 17 March. After a short time of treatment in the hospital, the patient N.V.T (case 18), in Vu Thu, Thai Binh province, recovers his normal healthy status and can be discharged. He is a student returning from Daegu (South Korea), used to be tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on 7 March.

Latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak around the world:

*Lockdown in Europe and Asia: Millions are under lockdown, with countries imposing travel restrictions and border closures.

*US measures: The US is working to send money directly to Americans in a bid to curb economic fallout. Meanwhile, 37 states have closed their public schools and the White House has advised people not to gather in groups of more than 10.

*China's health authorities on Tuesday reported 21 additional cases of novel coronavirus infection on the mainland, all but one from people arriving from abroad.

*Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser, an athletes' commission representative for the International Olympic Committee, accused the IOC of being "insensitive and irresponsible" for pushing ahead with plans to hold this summer's Tokyo Games in face of the coronavirus outbreak.

*Australia on Wednesday advised its citizens not to travel overseas indefinitely in an attempt to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

*U.S. President Donald Trump defended himself for referring to the new coronavirus as the "chinese virus" a phrase displeasing to leaders in Beijing who assert the origin of the global pandemic is yet to be determined.

*The International Olympic Committee said this summer's Tokyo Olympics will be held as scheduled, despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

*Japan has yet to reach a peak in coronavirus infections, with the number of new cases on a declining trend in Hokkaido but the number of infected people rising in Aichi and Hyogo prefectures, a Kyodo News study showed.

*Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it has decided to suspend operations at its factories in Portugal and France for around two weeks in response to the governments' policies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

*Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced a two-week nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro tests negative for coronavirus a second time

Brazilian President Jair Bolsnaro has tested negative for the novel coronavirus for a second time, according to a statement on his Twitter account.

The President’s health has been monitored closely since Bolsonaro’s press secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, tested positive for the virus last week.

Bolsonaro had previously been tested for coronavirus. His first test also came back negative, according to statements on his social media.

Bolsonaro, Wajngarten and other officials met with US President Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago earlier this month.The group had dinner together with President Trump and his team.

coronavirus updates march 20 the disease outbreak still in control with two patients got the first negative test
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks with press at the Palacio do Alvorada on March 17 in Brasilia, Brazil. Andressa Anholete/Getty Images

Italy has more than 30,000 infections, EU put a ban for entering in 30 days

According to Reuters, late time on 17 March, Italy recorded more than 3,526 Covid-19 positive cases compared to the previous days, raising its infectious numbers to 31,505 cases. Among 2,941 recovered, raising the total to 192 people.

The epiccenter Lombardy has recorded more than 1,571 new cases, raising the total infections to 16,220 with 1,640 deaths.

Swiss on 17 March warned people to stay at home in case of its 2,600 positive confirmations and 19 deaths. The Swiss authorities admitted that the continuously increasing of infectious cases caused difficuties for the statistic.

France recorded more than 27 deaths on 17 March, raising the deaths due to Covid-19 in this country to 175 among 7,730 infections, and the country started keeping the first day of the nation in quarantine agaist the disease outbreak.

At the same day, German Prime Minister Angela Merkel informed that the EU approved a 30-day ban on nonessential travel to curb the spread of the coronavirus when the country confirmed the first 2 infectious cases, marking the disease has spread out to the whole Europe.

The USA updated for deaths, and Turkey confirmed the first death

Accroding to AFP, the deaths in the USA was up to 100 cases, almost of them from Washington state with 50 deaths.

Turkey confirmed the first death among the total infections raised to 98 cases.

Live update new infections:

21 new cases in Cambodia

2 new cases in Barbados

45 new cases in Chile

23 new cases in Kazakhstan, including a 2-year-old girl in Almaty who flew from Berlin to Minsk on March 13

31 new cases in Peru

11 new cases in Colombia

44 new cases in Finland

21 new cases in Russia

23 new cases in Singapore

292 new cases and 19 new deaths in the Netherlands

26 new cases in Latvia

3 new cases in Uzbekistan

117 new cases in Portugal

21 new cases and 1 new death in Iraq

1178 new cases and 135 new deaths in Iran

8 new cases in Malta

1 new case in Liberia, a domestic worker connected to the 1st confirmed case

5 new cases in Cameroon

59 new cases in Luxembourg

3 new cases in Cuba, who had returned from Spain on March 8th

185 new cases in Belgium

107 new cases and 2 new deaths in Malaysia

2 new cases in Brunei Darussalam

10 new cases in Taiwan: all imported

45 new cases and 2 new deaths in the Philippines

20 new cases in Estonia

29 new cases in Faeroe Islands

30 new cases in Thailand

51 new cases in Australia. New cases include:

- 39 new cases in New South Wales

- 2 new cases in South Australia

12 new cases in New Zealand

11 new cases in Hungary

16 new cases in Venezuela

29 new cases in Mexico

177 new cases and 9 new deaths in South Korea. Reporting less than 100 new cases for the 3rd day in a row. Peak was reached on Feb. 29, with 909 new cases

China: 21 new cases, 13 new deaths (12 in Hubei), and 930 new discharges occurred in China on March 16, as reported by the National Health Commission (NHC) of China.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases in China so far to 80,881.

The death toll from the outbreak in China had reached 3,226 as of the end of Monday, up by 13 from the previous day.

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