COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 16): Three new imported cases bring total to 1,405
	COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 15): Vietnam-RoK agreed to short-term entry procedures
	COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 14): AI app to warn COVID risk developed by students won prizes

1 imported case, nearly 17,000 people in quarantine. (Photo: Suc Khoe & Doi Song)

1 imported case, nearly 17,000 people in quarantine

A 40-year-old Turkish woman became Vietnam’s only new COVID-19 case over the last 24 hours, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The new case brought the national tally of COVID-19 to 1,411, the committee reported.

The new patient arrived at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport from Turkey on December 17 and was immediately put into quarantine in the capital city. She tested positive for the novel coronavirus and sent to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No.2 for treatment on December 19.

On the same day, three more COVID-19 patients were given the all-clear, raising the total recoveries to 1,269. The fatalities remain at 35. Among patients still under treatment, ten have tested negative for the virus once, six twice and four thrice. A total of 16,954 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 209 at hospitals, 15,428 at State-designated facilities, and 1,317 at home or their accommodations.

Vietnam shines in maintaining economic growth amid COVID, said international seminar. (Photo: Vietnam Plus)

Vietnam shines in maintaining economic growth amid COVID, said international seminar

An online international scientific conference with the theme "The changing role of Vietnam in the contemporary world: Towards the XIII National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam" was held by St. Petersburg University, Russia.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov highlighted the important role of the Communist Party of Vietnam in leading the nation's construction and development, with remarkable achievements such as high economic growth over years. Vietnam has gained its position and been trusted by the international community. Notably, the country has become one of the few to maintain economic growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts from different countries agreed that amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam received an increasing role in the international arena. The experts highlighted Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralisation, proactive and active international integration. Vietnam's success over COVID-19 lied in the fact that the Party and Government had closely directed, mobilized the entire political system to participate in the prevention, and the citizens had strongly supported and complied with that policy, thereby enhancing the credibility of the Communist Party, said experts.

Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific (Photo: Straits Times)

WHO and EU pledged to support 8 ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, in the fight against COVID

The European Union (EU) pledges to provide 20 million euros for the COVID-19 pandemic response program and is ready to respond to the next pandemic break in Southeast Asia, while The World Health Organization (WHO) will use its grant to continue supporting the governments of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam in the fight against pandemic, said Suc khoe & Doi song.

"These countries have spent more than a decade preparing for pandemic situations, by designing medical systems strong enough to face situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU grant will contribute to this process and help countries across Southeast Asia prepare for the next medical emergency or pandemic” said Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific.

The fund will be used to mobilize all regions and communities to join hands in prevention, preparedness, and response activities to control pandemic spread in the community and reduce mortality caused by COVID-19. In addition, WHO will use EU funding to strengthen coordination among ASEAN member states and promote the region's joint COVID-19 response.

COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 19): 3 imported cases, 3 patients discharged from hospital 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. 17): Strong response helps VN's economy weather pandemic, said CNA 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 ...

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.