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Vietnam reports 12 new imported COVID-19 cases. (Photo: Nikkei)

Vietnam reports 12 new imported COVID-19 cases

Vietnam recorded 12 new imported COVID-19 cases on December 24 evening, including an international expert and 11 Vietnamese returning home from abroad, raising the total number of infections in the country to 1,433. All of the infected people have been quarantined upon their arrival, posing no risk of transmission to the community.

According to the subcommittee for treatment, a total of 1,281 patients have been successfully treated to date, while the number of deaths related to the disease was still kept at 35. Among the active patients undergoing treatment nationwide, six tested negative for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once, 10 twice, and four thrice.

As many as 16,226 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entered Vietnam from pandemic-regions are currently quarantined across the country, including 168 in hospitals, 15,056 in state-designated establishments, and the rest at their residences.

Over 340 Vietnamese citizens brought home from Australia, New Zealand. (Photo: Nhan Dan)

Over 340 Vietnamese citizens brought home from Australia, New Zealand

More than 340 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from Australia and New Zealand on December 23 on a Vietnam Airlines flight. The flight was arranged by the Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese representative offices in Australia and New Zealand, the national flag carrier, and authorities in the host nations. Passengers on board include children under 18 years old, the elderly, laborers with expired contracts, and people in extremely difficult circumstances.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, disease prevention measures were strictly carried out during the flight. Upon landing at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, the flight crew and all passengers were given health check-ups and quarantined.

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.

A medical worker handles vials containing Covid-19 samples in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam. (Photo: VN Express)

Japanese firm to produce Covid-19 test kits in Vietnam

Japanese biotech and chemical firm Fujifilm is planning to produce Covid-19 test kits in Vietnam by expanding its production facilities in the country.

Fujifilm would invest in Fujifilm Yuwa Medical Products Vietnam Co., a joint venture that produces diagnostic agents. The firm would be able to deliver two million kits a month to be sold globally, it added. However, when exactly the kits would enter production has yet to be confirmed.

Vietnam has been producing its own Covid-19 test kits since earlier this year, utilizing techniques that detect the novel coronavirus from a person's respiratory tract and blood. A kit produced by Vietnam Military Medical University and Viet A Technologies, with research funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology, has received certifications which allow their distribution in Europe.

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