Photo: VOV

Covid-19: More than 16,000 infections were recorded in Vietnam over 24 hours

Vietnam has recorded 16,278 new coronavirus infections in 59 cities and provinces across the country during the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said in its coronavirus update on January 7. Official data from the MoH also show that 11,423 cases were detected in the community, and 24 cases tested positive upon returning to Vietnam from overseas. The remaining patients were diagnosed in lockdown and quarantine areas.

As many as 14,633 patients were discharged from the hospital, and 233 patients died of Covid-19 and underlying illnesses. Of the new infections, the Hanoi capital in the north continued to top localities, registering 2,723 cases. As the daily number of new infections keeps rising, experts recommended that Hanoi restrict public events of large gatherings, especially during the coming Lunar New Year holiday, to halt the spread of the virus.

The outbreak is showing signs of abating in the south, though most of the daily infections were detected there. Binh Phuoc took the lead with 716 new cases testing positive during the past 254 hours, followed by Vinh Long, Ca Mau, Tay Ninh, Tra Vinh, ho Chi Minh City, and Ben Tre.

Photo: Zing

Ho Chi Minh City shortens Covid home quarantine to 10 days

Ho Chi Minh City has reduced the home quarantine duration for Covid-19 cases from 14 to 10 days as the coronavirus situation in the city is put under control. In a new healthcare guideline for Covid-19 patients at home, issued by the HCMC Department of Health on Thursday, coronavirus cases could end quarantine and home treatment once 10 days have passed and their coronavirus tests return negative.

Patients are aged 3-64 can be quarantined at home, instead of age 1-50 as per previous regulations. Covid-19 cases who are children or those who are incapable of taking care of themselves must find their own caretakers. Patients whose family members are vulnerable to Covid-19 are encouraged to be quarantined away from home to avoid cross-infection.

The document also introduced a new Covid-19 drug, favipiravir, for home treatment, besides the currently used molnupiravir. HCMC has recorded over 500,000 Covid-19 cases in the new wave so far, and 19,905 people have died in the city.

Photo: Zing

PM requires survey on Covid-19 vaccinations for children aged from five

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has assigned the Ministry of Health to coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training in organizing a survey on Covid-19 vaccinations for children aged from five. He requested learning from international experience and lessons of localities in the country and preparing a plan to inoculate children.

The Government leader also required the Ministry of Health to urgently implement his instructions on further accelerating the vaccination drive and on the need for imported vaccines to ensure the set target.

On January 6, the Government Office also issued a document requesting the Ministry of Health to early finalize the Government's draft Resolution on securing vaccines to vaccinate children aged 5 to under 12 to report to the Prime Minister.

Photo: Zing

China reopens one more border gate with Vietnam

China has announced the reopening of Pingmeng border gate with Vietnam’s Soc Giang border gate in Cao Bang province from 10:00 on January 7. The border gate was reopened just one day after the first meeting of the Working Group on Vietnam-China Trade Facilitation, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Asia-Africa Market Department said. Earlier, the Tra Linh (Vietnam) - Longbang (China) border gate had also been reopened.

On December 29, 2021, the Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien sent a letter to the Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China Liu Ning to discuss customs clearance and measures to handle cargo congestion at the border gates. In the letter, the minister asked the Chinese side to realize common perceptions reached by high-ranking leaders of the two countries on the expansion of the bilateral trade and the maintenance of the supply chain. He suggested Guangxi and Vietnam’s border localities work together to deal with the goods congestion.

The Guangxi side said it has assessed Covid-19 prevention and control at the border gates with Vietnam, noting that other gates would be gradually restored based on the latest pandemic situation.

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