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

Photo: Thanh Nien

Two new imported COVID-19 cases

Vietnam had two new COVID-19 cases to report over the last 24 hours, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The new cases were quarantined right after their arrival in the south-central province of Binh Thuan and the central city of Da Nang. This brought the national tally of COVID-19 to 1,413, the committee reported.

Vietnam has so far successfully treated 1,269 COVID-19 patients and kept the fatalities at 35. Among the patients still under treatment, 10 have tested negative for the virus once, six twice and four thrice. A total of 17,220 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 209 at hospitals, 15,690 at State-designated facilities, and 1,328 at home or their accommodations.

Photo: VNA

Deputy PM visits first COVID-19 vaccine trial volunteers

The first three volunteers receiving Nano Covax - the Vietnamese-made anti-COVID-19 vaccine - are in good health conditions 72 hours after injection, with all indications proving that the vaccine is safe for humans, according to the Ministry of Health and Military Medical Academy. The initial results of the vaccine on humans were reported to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam who visited the volunteers on December 20.

As no abnormal reaction has been found on the volunteers, one man and two women aged 20-25, on December 21, the Military Medical Academy is scheduled to administer the vaccine on the remaining volunteers who registered for the first phase of the trial.

According to leaders of the academy, after reviewing records of the vaccine’s effects on mice and monkeys, experts hope that following the second and third phases, the immunogenetics of the vaccine will be fully assessed and meet the requirements.

Photo: Lao Dong

German journal praised Vietnam's efforts to cope COVID-19

The German newspaper Junge Welt reports that while the US still recording the number of new infections and deaths at a record high every day and the European Union (EU) countries had to impose strict measures to fight the pandemic, Vietnamese people already return to normal life.

The article quotes a teacher from Vietnam saying that life has long been back to normal, there are no social restrictions, although, in Hanoi, it is still necessary to wear a mask when entering shopping malls, bus stations, public transport, and in gathering places.

In terms of economy, Vietnam also copes better with the crisis than other countries in Southeast Asia and the world, the newspaper said. The article quotes the German Trade and Invest (GTAI) that Vietnam's economy achieved a positive growth of 2.1% in real terms in the first three quarters of the year compared to the same period last year, and growth has been mainly achieved through domestic demand and high government investment.

Photo: VTC

240 Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Singapore

A Bamboo Airways flight carried more than 240 Vietnamese citizens home from Singapore on December 20. The passengers included the elderly, children under 18 years old, people with illnesses, and other people in extremely difficult circumstances. The Vietnamese Embassy 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 the Can Tho International Airport in the Mekong Delta City of the same name, all crewmembers and 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.

COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 20): VN shines in maintaining economic growth amid COVID, said int'l seminar 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 ...

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 ...