COVID-19 Updates (Nov. 30) in Vietnam: German newspaper praised VN's rapid response against COVID
	COVID-19 Updates (Nov. 29): Government presented face masks to Vietnamese in Laos
	COVID-19 Updates (Nov. 28): Food packaging imported from COVID-19 countries will be tested

1 imported case, great change in number of isolation. (Photo: MOH)

1 imported case, great change in number of isolation

One imported case of COVID-19 was reported on December 7, raising the national count to 1,367, according to the National Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The new patient is a 29-year-old Vietnamese woman who returned from Russia and was quarantined upon her arrival at Da Nang airport on December 6.

A total of 1,224 COVID-19 patients have fully recovered, with four given the all-clear in the last 24 hours. Among those still under treatment, eight have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, five twice and four thrice. There are 19,806 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas being quarantined across the country, about 2,600 higher than yesterday's figures.

Strict COVID-19 prevention measures must be maintained, said leaders. (Photo: VNA)

Strict COVID-19 prevention measures must be maintained, said leaders

Speaking at the meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long asked for tightening border management, as well as the supervision of quarantine at home and lodging facilities. “Any violations of pandemic prevention and control regulations must be strictly handled,” he requested.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the committee, also urged stronger prevention measures, especially during the winter and upcoming major national events. He highlighted the responsibility of local authorities in implementing relevant guidelines issued by the health ministries and other agencies concerned.

Strict prevention measures must be maintained on flights, the Deputy PM said, stressing the need to seriously follow regulations on concentrated quarantine, and continue health monitoring in localities towards those returning from concentrated quarantine facilities.

Vietnam's vaccine human trial may involve tens of thousands of volunteers. (Photo: Tien Phong)

Vietnam's vaccine human trial may involve tens of thousands of volunteers

According to Mr. Ho Nhan, General Director of Nanogen Company, the first unit in Vietnam that will test COVID-19 vaccine in humans, Nanogen's COVID-19 vaccine is expected to take about 6 months for human trials, divided into three phases. The product is hoped to hit the market by May 2021.

In the first phase of the trial, the company, in collaboration with the Military Medical Academy, recruited 60 volunteers for vaccination. This group will be split into 3 smaller groups to test the different vaccine content: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg. The entire phase one trial process will last for a month. In the short term, the first 20 people will be injected. Phase two will be carried on a scale of 600 people, for a period of 2-3 months. The number of volunteers for the last phrase is currently unknown.

Together with NANOGEN, the remaining 3 units are the IVAC, Vabiotech and Polyvac are also racing to bring the COVID-19 vaccine to clinical trials. It is expected that in February 2021, a clinical trial injection of the IVAC vaccine will take place and by March 2021, the chance will come to Vabiotech's vaccine.

Over 240 Vietnamese citizens brought home from Singapore. (Photo: VNA)

Over 240 Vietnamese citizens brought home from Singapore

More than 240 Vietnamese citizens in Singapore were flown back to Vietnam on December 7 on a flight of Pacific Airlines at the arrangement of Vietnamese and Singaporean agencies.

Passengers on the flight included under-18 children and those with health problems or in extremely disadvantaged circumstances. The Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore sent staff members to the airport to help the citizens with boarding procedures.

To ensure health for the citizens and prevent the spread of COVID-19, strict security, safety, and epidemiological measures were applied during the flight. After landing at Can Tho airport in the southern city of the same name, all crew members and passengers on the flight were given health checks and sent to quarantine in accordance 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.

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COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 2): PM requires strict punishment for violations of COVID-19 prevention A government meeting was held on the afternoon of December 1 to deal with the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.

COVID-19 Updates (Dec. 1): VN records 1st community transmission after three months The Ministry of Health (MoH) on November 30 afternoon confirmed a new COVID-19 case that got the coronavirus from another, marking Vietnam's first community transmission ...