COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 16): Three new imported cases bring total to 1,405

	COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 12): Vietnam’s trade surplus hits record despite COVID-19
	COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 10): Vietnam COVID-19 vaccine trial process officially launched
	COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 9): Former German Vice Chancellor applauded VN's success in controlling COVID

Three new imported cases bring total to 1,405. (Photo: VNA)

Three new imported cases bring total to 1,405

Three new cases of COVID-19 were detected over the past 24 hours, all Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad and being quarantine, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The new cases brought the national tally of COVID-19 patients to 1,405.

Also in the last 24 hours, six more COVID-19 patients were given the all-clear, raising the total recoveries to 1,252. The fatalities remain at 35. Among patients still under treatment, three have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, six twice and six thrice.

A total of 18,957 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 208 at hospitals, 15,688 at concentrated facilities, and 3,061 at home or their accommodations.

Vietnam holds workshop to seek ways to protect human rights amid COVID-19. (Photo: TG&VN)

Vietnam holds workshop to seek ways to protect human rights amid COVID-19

Protecting and promoting human rights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic was the theme of a workshop jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Hanoi on December 15. Attended by more than 100 representatives of ministries, departments, and localities, along with research institutes, social organizations, and the foreign diplomatic corps in Vietnam, the workshop marked Human Rights Day on December 10.

Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu touched on the major challenges brought about by COVID-19 in the world and in Vietnam over the last year that have disrupted the enjoyment of fundamental human rights. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government has paid due attention to protecting and supporting the vulnerable during the pandemic and introduced ideas to bolster international cooperation in battling COVID-19.

Delegates also discussed legal issues surrounding human rights restrictions during the time of the pandemic, the enjoyment of human rights in cyberspace, and the role and contribution of every element in society in observing COVID-19 preventive measures. They shared information and experience and put forward solutions to protect and promote human rights against the backdrop of COVID-19, which will be integrated into the implementation of recommendations under the UPR mechanism.

UN requests Vietnam to deploy Covid-19 testing center in South Sudan. (Photo: VN Express)

UN requests Vietnam to deploy Covid-19 testing center in South Sudan

The United Nations (U.N.) recently requested Vietnam to deploy a Covid-19 testing center in South Sudan thanks to its successful efforts to contain the disease.

The testing center would help increase the U.N.’s capability to fight Covid-19 across the area overseen by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UMISS), Vietnam’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations stated at a Friday meeting between itself, the Vietnamese People’s Army, and other agencies related to the Ministry of National Defense.

The defense ministry urged Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to approve the U.N.’s request to support South Sudan with medical equipment produced by Vietnam to enhance relations between both countries, and support local peacekeeping forces in the country, the government news portal reported.

Vietnam has officially participated in U.N. peacekeeping operations since 2014. In October 2018, a field hospital was erected for the U.N. mission in South Sudan, while a second was built in November last year.

COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 15): Vietnam-RoK agreed to short-term entry procedures South Korea and Vietnam have agreed on quarantine-free procedures for short visits of fewer than 14 days.

COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 14): AI app to warn COVID risk developed by students won prizes BeCaked - a product developed by 2 Vietnamese students to predict COVID-19 development won Eureka 2020 Awards.

COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 13): Prime Minister urges COVID-19 prevention during holiday Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued a notice calling for traffic safety during upcoming holidays along with strict observation of regulations on the control ...