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	Hanoi might suspend unnecessary festivals over Covid-19 concerns

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the meeting (Photo: VTC)

At the National Health Conference on Wednesday, the PM said 2020 was a long year for the “white soldiers”, touting them for their great efforts, especially those in the front battle against the pandemic. Together with the military forces, police, diplomatists, the medical personnel has always been resilient and willing to dedicate and sacrifices themselves to protect the health and lives of their countrymen.

“The successful COVID-19 pandemic containment is a beautiful example of the harmony between the will and the action of the entire political system”, the Vietnamese leader commented.

Phuc also emphasized that the coming Lunar New Year was tagged with a number of significant events, including the 13^th National Party Congress – scheduled to take place from January 25 to February 2. The PM asked the health sector, military forces, police, and localities to raise their vigilance and not to let their guard down over fear of the new COVID-19 outbreak and transmission.

He noted that the Government would resolutely, strictly apply administrative and criminal punishments on those individuals and organizations disregard anti-pandemic rules.

In addition, Phuc spoke highly of Vietnamese units for their COVID-19 vaccine candidates. The fact that the second vaccine is about to enter human trials on January 21 and the third one scheduled to be human-trialed in March is worth-praising.

The attainment demonstrates research capacity, sense of responsibility, professional ethics and agility, the desire and pride in protecting Vietnamese people during the historic pandemic.

(Photo: VTC)

Earlier on January 5, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested to suspend inbound flights from countries and territories where the new Covid-19 mutation has been detected.

As reported by VNE, the list includes the U.K. and South Africa, where two different variants of the virus have been found. The one found in the U.K. early last month is said to be 70 percent more transmissible than the old one. Britain’s health minister said Monday that the mutation found recently in South Africa is even more problematic.

PM Phuc issued the order following the proposal by the health ministry on the previous day saying that inbound flights are suspended or limited from countries and territories with the new, more contagious coronavirus strains.

In its report, the MoH noted that the novel coronavirus pandemic has recently evolved in a complex manner globally following the emergence of the new SARS-CoV-2 virus variant, VOV reported.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested to suspend inbound flights from countries and territories where the new Covid-19 mutation has been detected (Illustrative photo: VOV)

The new strain variant VOC202012/01 was said to originate from the United Kingdom and it has so far spread to 34 countries and territories worldwide, including Vietnam.

On January 4, Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong affirmed that the Ministry of Health is negotiating with British Covid-19 vaccine developers AstraZeneca and Oxford University to purchase 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

He also revealed Vietnam would be eligible to buy vaccines from the World Health Organization’s Covax program to cover 16 percent, or 15.6 million of its nearly 98 million population, at "the cheapest price."

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