COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 13): Prime Minister urges COVID-19 prevention during holiday
	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

No new COVID-19 cases to report in last 24 hours. (Photo: VN Express)

No new COVID-19 cases to report in last 24 hours

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, with the tally standing at 1,405, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Of the total, 693 cases were transmitted domestically. December 17 marked the 16th consecutive day without community-transmitted infections in the country.

As of December 16 afternoon, 1,252 patients had been given the all-clear. The fatalities remain at 35. Among patients still under treatment, 3 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, 6 twice and 6 thrice. A total of 18,378 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 207 at hospitals, 15,567 at concentrated facilities, and 2,804 at home or their accommodations.

Citizens flown home from Europe, Africa, South America, Brunei. (Photo: VN Express)

Citizens flown home from Europe, Africa, South America, Brunei

A Vietnam Airlines flight brought home nearly 350 Vietnamese citizens from over 30 countries in Europe, Africa, and South America on December 15-16 thanks to concerted efforts from Vietnamese missions and local authorities. Meanwhile, 180 citizens were brought home from Brunei on December 16 thanks to the efforts of Vietjet Air, Vietnam, and Brunei authorities.

On board of the flight were children under 18, the elderly, people with illnesses, students who finished their studies but without accommodation, guest workers whose visas and labor contracts had expired, and those in extremely difficult circumstances.

The embassy sent staff to the airport to assist the citizens in completing boarding procedures. All crew members and passengers complied with in-flight COVID-19 preventive measures. They were given medical checkups and put under quarantine upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

More flights will be arranged to fly home Vietnamese citizens in the future, depending on citizens’ requests, the COVID-19 pandemic situation, and the nation’s quarantine capacity.

Strong response helps VN's economy weather pandemic, said Channel News Asia. (Photo: Channel News Asia)

Strong response helps VN's economy weather pandemic, said Channel News Asia

Channel News Asia published an article on December 16 to applaud Vietnam's effort to control COVID-19, which nurtures its economic growth. A strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic, surging exports and healthy public spending have helped Vietnam buck a global recession in 2020 and fast-track its recovery, with analysts predicting it will likely enjoy one of the highest growth rates in the world, it said.

According to the article, while many countries have suffered from high infection and mortality rates, Vietnam has recorded fewer than 1,500 coronavirus cases and 35 deaths thanks to mass quarantines, expansive contact-tracing and strict controls on movement, allowing factories to largely stay open and people to swiftly get back to work.

Vietnam's relative triumph this year could lead to benefits in years to come, said Adam McCarty, chief economist at Hanoi-based Mekong Economics. The way the coronavirus has been handled has "almost made Vietnam famous around the world", he said, adding it is signaling to big foreign companies overseas that they should have another look at Vietnam.

COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 16): Three new imported cases bring total to 1,405 Three new cases of COVID-19 were detected over the past 24 hours, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

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.