COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 4): VN halts self-paid commercial flights repatriating citizens

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3 imported cases, 841 F1 to 4 new cases show negative results. (Photo: VNA)

3 imported cases, 841 F1 to 4 new cases in HCMC show negative results

Three cases of COVID-19, all imported cases, were recorded, raising the national count to 1361, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Of the new patients, two are Vietnamese citizens with one returning from Germany and the other from the US via the Republic of Korea. The third one is a Nepalese arriving from the US. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City announced negative test results of 841 people who were under suspicion for having close contact with the city's latest 4 cases (1342, 1347, 1348, 1349).

In the last 24 hours, 8 patients were given the all-clear, bringing the number of recovered patients to 1,209. The fatalities remain at 35. Among those still receiving treatment, 3 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, 5 twice and 10 thrice. A total of 16,582 people who had close contacts with COVID-19 patients or returned from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 164 at hospitals, 15,566 at concentrated facilities, and 852 at home or accommodations.

HCMC to prosecute patient 1342 for violations of pandemic rules. (Photo: Thanh Nien)

HCMC to prosecute patient 1342 for violations of pandemic rules

Ho Chi Minh City will strictly handle, and even consider criminal proceedings against violations of rules on epidemic prevention and control, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said at a meeting on December 3.

He added that the city will start criminal proceedings against patient 1342 for not observing epidemic prevention regulations while being quarantined at a concentrated quarantine facility and at his accommodation.

The official also requested that the police apply similar measures to those who refuse to make health declarations or make any untrue declaration, break quarantine rules, gather in large numbers, resist on-duty officers, speculate in goods, manipulate prices, or produce fake and low-quality goods.

He required agencies, organizations, and enterprises to tighten epidemic prevention work, and ordered local departments and administrations to stay prepared for any situation. Phong also urged the city’s residents to wear facemasks in public places and stay away from crowded places.

Vietnam halts self-paid commercial flights repatriating overseas citizens (Photo: Vietnam Plus)

Vietnam halts self-paid commercial flights repatriating overseas citizens

There will be temporarily no commercial flights to bring home overseas Vietnamese who voluntarily pay for quarantine fees, foreign ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on December 3.

With the aim of leaving no one behind, Vietnamese agencies have coordinated with domestic and foreign airlines to organize flights to bring Vietnamese citizens home safely, in accordance with quarantine capacity at home.

More than 240 flights have been conducted so far to repatriate over 66,000 Vietnamese from some 50 countries and territories, she said. Agencies have created the best possible conditions for foreign diplomats, experts, skilled workers, and their relatives to come to Vietnam through arranging flights and quarantine. Negative acts that change the humanitarian nature of the flights need to be condemned and punished in line with the law, she stressed.

Regarding Vietnam’s view on studying and distributing a COVID-19 vaccine, Hang said Vietnam is keeping a close watch on developments and welcomes the research outcomes of companies and countries. “We hope that after they are accepted, the vaccines will be popularised, creating more opportunities to contain the spread of the pandemic, especially in developing countries,” Hang said.

Hanoi restricts unnecessary activities due to complicated COVID-19 developments. (Photo: MOH)

Hanoi restricts unnecessary activities due to complicated COVID-19 developments

Facing the complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Hanoi People's Committee issued two urgent documents on disease prevention and control on December 3.

Accordingly, the City People's Committee requested to strengthen inspection of the concentrated isolation areas and closely monitor home isolation; strictly implementing the 5K directive, strictly implementing measures to prevent and control the epidemic; restricting unnecessary activities and events that gather crowds of people; intensifying vigilance against epidemic risks, calmly responding to epidemic situations; drastically, synchronously and effectively implementing proposed epidemic prevention and control measures.

In addition, the city also asked to maintain a 24/24/7 pandemic prevention and control standing teams at medical facilities to ensure fast and timely handling of pandemic situations; stay ready to respond quickly to information for early detection, promptly stamp out the sources of outbreaks.

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