COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 26): 6 imported cases, new virus strain not yet found

	COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 22): New Year countdown party 2021 to be held virtually in Hochiminh City
	COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 21): Deputy PM visits first COVID-19 vaccine trial volunteers
	COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 20): VN shines in maintaining economic growth amid COVID, said int'l seminar

The Health Ministry continues to urge people to follow the 5K message to prevent the spread of COVID-19, install and run the Bluezone app on mobile phones. (Photo: LA Times)

Six imported cases of COVID-19 reported

Six imported cases of COVID-19 were reported in the past 24 hours to 6 pm on December 25, raising the national count to 1,439, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Five among the new patients are Vietnamese citizens, including two returning from the UK on December 22, and three from Germany on December 18. The sixth patient is a Brazilian expert who arrived from Qatar on December 24. They tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 while staying in quarantine after arrival.

The same day, 22 COVID-19 patients were given the all-clear, bringing the total recoveries to 1,303, while fatalities remained at 35. Among patients still under treatment, eight have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, eight twice and eight thrice. A total of 16,829 people are being quarantined nationwide, with 171 at hospitals, 15,672 at designated concentrated facilities, and 966 at homes or accommodations.

Dong Thap is bordered by Prey Veng to the north. The two share a 48.7 km borderline, with four border gates. (Photo: VNA)

Dong Thap helps Cambodian border force in COVID-19 fight

The Border Guard Command in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on December 24 presented financial and material assistance to the border force of Cambodia’s Prey Veng province to help the force in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The assistance included 180 million VND (7,800 USD) and necessities to help the Cambodian force address difficulties and enhance cooperation with the Vietnamese side in patrols and information exchange for pandemic prevention and control and border protection.

As part of the handover ceremony, held at Dong Thap’s Dinh Ba international border gate, the two sides informed each other of their respective work in combating COVID-19 and border defense. Dong Thap is bordered by Prey Veng to the north. The two share a 48.7 km borderline, with four border gates.

Vietnam has not yet detected the new strain of coronavirus that has spread in the UK among legal immigrants, a health official affirmed on December 25. (Photo: VNA)

New COVID-19 strain not yet found among legal immigrants in Vietnam

Vietnam has not yet detected the new strain of coronavirus that has spread in the UK among legal immigrants, a health official affirmed on December 25.

Hoang Minh Duc, deputy head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, said at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control that Vietnam has gone through 24 straight days without any coronavirus infections in the community. However, imported cases of COVID-19 have still been recorded from flights bringing overseas Vietnamese home or foreign experts to Vietnam, Duc said. Therefore, the country faces the risk of pandemic recurrence, especially during the New Year holidays when the demand for home returning increases.

Presiding over the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the committee, called for the joint resolution to preserve achievements in the pandemic combat as long as possible, in order to ensure safe and happy New Year holidays. All immigrants to Vietnam must present their quarantine plans before entering Vietnam, Dam requested. Apart from medical centers, schools, and lodging facilities, it is necessary to step up COVID-19 prevention and control measures at markets, commercial centers, places of worship, notably public transport means, he went on.

COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 25): 12 new imported cases, nearly 1,300 patients treated Vietnam recorded 12 new imported COVID-19 cases on December 24 evening, raising the total number of infections in the country to 1,433.

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COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 22): New Year countdown party 2021 to be held virtually in Hochiminh City HCM City's annual countdown music party to welcome the New Year will be held virtually on December 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic prevention work.