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Three new cases of COVID-19 were detected over the past 24 hours (Photo: Nhan Dan)

3 imported cases, 3 patients discharged from hospital

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 1,410.

On December 18, three more COVID-19 patients were given the all-clear, raising the total recoveries to 1,266. The fatalities remain at 35. Among patients still under treatment, eight have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, two twice, and five thrice.

A total of 18,084 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 219 at hospitals, 15,068 at concentrated facilities, and 2,797 at home or their accommodations.

The meeting in response to International Migrants Day. (Photo: Dan Tri)

Migrants need more support in COVID-19 control, said Health Officials

Speaking at a meeting in response to the International Migrants Day jointly held by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Vietnam and the Ministry of Health’s General Office for Population - Family Planning (GOPFP) in Hanoi on December 17, Director of the General Office's planning and finance department Dang Van Nghi said the Vietnam Population Strategy till 2030 has directed to pay more attention and investment to vulnerable groups, including migrants.

As the COVID-19 pandemic still remains complicated, overseas migrants are more vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic than non-migrants. They not only face the risk of losing their jobs and income but also being stigmatized. More importantly, they also encounter the risk of COVID-19 infection. Culture - language barriers and the socio-economic situation may limit them from accessing health care services quickly, accurately, and safely.

While emphasizing the important role of migrants, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Park Mi-Hyung, Chief of Mission at IOM Vietnam, said migrants are an essential labor force in each country.

Vietnamese citizens brought home from Germany. (Photo: GTVT)

Vietnamese citizens brought home from Germany

A Vietnam Airlines flight carried 310 Vietnamese citizens home from Germany on December 17-18. Passengers on board include the elderly, children under 18 years old, students whose curricula are completed, and people in extremely difficult circumstances. The Vietnamese Consulate General in Frankfurt sent staff members to the airport to help the citizens with boarding procedures.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, disease prevention measures were strictly carried out during the flight. Upon landing at Van Don Airport in northern Quang Ninh province, the flight crew and all passengers were given health check-ups and quarantined in line with regulations.

The repatriation of Vietnamese citizens in disadvantaged circumstances abroad will be arranged based on citizens’ wishes, the developments of the pandemic, and domestic quarantine capacity.

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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.