Photo: Thanh Nien

Covid-19: new cases on April 16 number 18,470

A total of 18,474 new Covid-19 cases were recorded on April 16, a decline of 1,602 cases from the previous day, according to the Ministry of Health. Hanoi remains among the leading localities in terms of Covid-19 infections recorded on a daily basis, with 1,361 cases, trailed by Phu Tho with 1,070 and Bac Giang with 874.

The overall infection tally now stands at more than 10.4 million, ranking 12th out of 227 countries and territories globally. An additional 10 deaths were also recorded over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities up to 42,934, accounting for 0.4% of the total caseload.

The total number of recoveries also rose to over 8.93 million after a total of 68,330 patients were declared free from the virus on the same day.

Photo: Dan toc & Phat trien

HCM City starts Covid-19 vaccination for 5-under-12 children

Ho Chi Minh City on April 16 started to vaccinate children aged from 5 to under 12 against Covid-19, with 109 vaccination stations set up across the city. About 30,000 sixth-grade students are the first to get the shots.

At the vaccination station in the Hong Bang secondary school, the principal of the school Tran Van Luyen said that the school has coordinated with the medical force to prepare for vaccination activities during the past more than one month. Luyen said that 93.5 percent of parents of sixth-grade students in the school agreed to bring their children to vaccination.

As scheduled, on April 16, 200 students of the school will be vaccinated, he added. Doctor Nguyen Huu Thinh from Cho Ray Hospital said that vaccines and all necessary conditions for the vaccination have been ready. The children will be injected with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, with a dose of 0.25ml. Vice-Chairman of the city People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc said that vaccination is necessary to ensure the good health of students, allowing them to attend class in person.

Vice Director of the city Health Department Nguyen Huu Hung said that to prepare for the vaccination campaign, the city has given training to more than 7,500 medical workers and set up medical teams as well as medicine and equipment for emergency cases. Under a plan adopted by the municipal People’s Committee earlier this month, HCM City is to inoculate 898,537 children in the 5-under 12 age group, and the inoculation is expected to be completed by September this year.

Photo: Bao Tin Tuc

Spectators at SEA Games 31’s games not required to take Covid-19 tests

Spectators watching competitions in person during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) will not be required to take Covid-19 tests before entering the stadiums, according to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health on April 16 regarding Covid-19 control measures during the regional sports event.

According to the guidelines, guests to the event at the deputy ministerial level and above, as well as heads and deputy heads of sports delegations neither need to show negative Covid-19 testing results when entering Vietnam nor take testing after arrival. They also do not need to take quarantine.

Meanwhile, sports officials, referees, and athletes are required to have certified negative RT-PCR/RT-LAMP testing results taken within 72 hours or rapid antigen testing within 24 hours before entering Vietnam, but not required to take quarantine. Coaches and athletes will need to take Covid-19 rapid tests 24 hours before each competition.

The guidelines also list Covid-19 control measures to be implemented at accommodation facilities for guests and athletes, with the setting up of SARS-CoV-2 testing areas and teams providing medical and food safety services for them. Quarantine and treatment rooms will also be arranged for Covid-19 patients with no or mild symptoms.

Photo: Zing

People in close contact with Covid-19 patients no longer required to self-quarantine

People who have been in close contact with Covid-19 patients, or F1 cases, are now no longer required to self-quarantine but have to avoid going to places where people gather. The new guidance gives new definitions of Covid-19 patients (or F0), and F1 cases, along with medical measures for them, which takes into account the high vaccination coverage and a strong decline in both serious cases and fatalities due to Covid-19.

Accordingly, F0 patients are those testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR method, or those who either show clinical symptoms or have epidemiological factors and have positive antigen test results. Meanwhile, F1 cases are those who have direct body contact with F0(s) during the transmission period or stay together with F0(s) within 1m in distance or in a closed space for at least 15 minutes wearing masks or not or personal care for, give checking and treatment to F0 during the transmission period without wearing personal protective equipment.

The new rules require both F0 and F1 cases to follow prescribed epidemic prevention measures. Even though no longer required to self-quarantine, F1 cases are required to wear facemasks, regularly wash or disinfect hands, and avoid close contact with others. They should self-monitor their health and quickly contact medical establishments when having suspicious symptoms in order to receive testing, consultation, medical checks, and treatment. The new guidance replaces the previous ones on the definition of F0 and F1 cases and relevant medical quarantine measures.

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (April 16): More Than 20,000 New Cases As of April 14, the country had injected more than 209 million Covid-19 vaccine doses.

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (April 14): 24,623 New Covid-19 Cases, Nearly 14,000 Recoveries By April 12, the country had injected 208,810,706 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (April 13): Nearly 23,000 New Cases Recorded As of 6 pm on April 12, Vietnam has documented nearly 10.3 million infections, ranking 12th out of 227 countries and territories worldwide.