Vietnam COVID-19 Updates (March 18): Vietnam may receive 30 mln Pfizer doses
	Vietnam COVID-19 Updates (March 17): Hai Duong to lift social distancing on March 18
	Vietnam COVID-19 Updates (March 16): Hanoi removes distancing requirements on inter-province buses

Photo: Vietnam Plus

No new cases in the morning

Three cases of COVID-19 were reported in the past 12 hours to 6 pm March 18 with two in the northern province of Hai Duong, and one imported case in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, according to the Health Ministry. The two new patients in Hai Duong were F1 of previous cases, while the patient in Ninh Thuan returned from the Philippines.

On the morning of March 19, Vietnam has no new cases to report. As of 6 am on March 19, Vietnam had a total of 1601 COVID-19 cases due to domestic infections, of which the number of new cases since January 27 is 908 cases.

Photo: VIR

HCM City searching for foreigner who fled quarantine centre

Relevant agencies in Ho Chi Minh City are searching for a foreigner who failed to observe quarantine regulations after entering Vietnam illegally, the city’s Centre for Disease Control (HCDC) announced on March 18.

Police in Cu Chi district announced the search for Yang Gui Bin, a Chinese national born in 1986, who had previously been quarantined at the Cu Chi Hospital for COVID-19 Treatment after being caught by police for illegal entry. Yang tested negative twice for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on March 6 and 11 and then fled on March 15.

According to the HCDC, 824 health workers at the city’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases had received shots against COVID-19 as of March 16. Some of those vaccinated displayed predicted symptoms such as pain at the site of injection, muscle pain, headache, and fever, but all are now in a stable condition. The municipal Department of Health has asked the HCDC to hold training courses at vaccination sites on the implementation of the COVID-19 inoculation drive.

Photo: VNA

Pandemic-hit workers to receive free vocational training

Workers in Ho Chi Minh City who were laid off or had their hours cut as a result of COVID-19 will have the opportunity to attend free vocational training courses under a new program initiative, according to Vice Chairman of the municipal Federation of Labour Pham Chi Tam.

Jointly launched by the city’s Federation of Labour and the Cao Thang Technical College, the program aims to help affected workers make a career shift, improve their professional skills, and seek new employment. Courses will be held from April 1 to June 30 on weekday evenings and weekends.

Tam said courses will be offered on 24 simple professions in seven industries: information technology, heat engineering and refrigeration technology, mechanics, electricity, electronics, transportation mechanical engineering, economics, and foreign languages. Not only are the courses free, but they will also enable trainees to practice on advanced equipment, he noted, adding that they will even be paid for apprenticeships at companies and receive certificates of completion. Each person is allowed to attend a maximum of two courses.

Photo: Vietnam Insider

COVID-19 vaccination campaign reaching more provinces

The northwestern province of Dien Bien administered the first shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to frontline health workers at its temporary hospital for coronavirus treatment at the medical center of Dien Bien Phu city on March 18. On the first day, 80 of the hospital’s 172 staff members were given injections, with every necessary measure taken to ensure absolute safety.

Dien Bien province has received 1,900 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Ministry of Health in the first phase. It plans to initially provide the vaccine to priority groups in Muong Ang district, the health checkpoint at Pha Din Pass in Tuan Giao district, Dien Bien Phu city, and the Dien Bien General Hospital. The first shots are to be administered on March 18 and 19.

Meanwhile, in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, about 900,000 people from priority groups will be vaccinated, according to the provincial People’s Committee. Apart from the 11 priority groups selected by the Government, the local administration has requested relevant agencies review forces performing duties and residents in border areas, to include them on the priority list.

Dong Thap is scheduled to inject 350 doses allocated by the Health Ministry to the staff at the Hong Ngu General Hospital, which is treating COVID-19 patients, from March 23 to 26. Vice-Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Doan Tan Buu, who is also deputy head of the province’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, said that apart from tightening control in border areas, Dong Thap has also supported neighboring Cambodian provinces with medical supplies and established plans to ensure health and safety during the upcoming general elections.

Photo: VN Express

900 Vietnamese from Japan, Thailand to be repatriated

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on Wednesday agreed to bring 900 Vietnamese citizens stuck in Japan and Thailand home. They will return home on four flights operated by Vietjet Air that are scheduled to land at Da Nang International Airport in central Vietnam.

Thailand has been battered by a new wave of Covid-19 over the past months, with its infection tally rising to 27,402 while Japan has struggled with a recent surge in new infections, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo since Jan. 7.

Vietnam suspended all inbound commercial flights in March 2020 but has still allowed repatriation flights to bring home Vietnamese citizens stuck abroad as well as special flights to carry foreign experts and investors into the country.

Over 75,000 Vietnamese were repatriated last year. The foreign ministry said repatriation of Vietnamese citizens would occur in line with the global pandemic situation, as well as domestic isolation capacity. Vietnam has recorded 906 cases in its latest Covid-19 outbreak since Jan. 28.

Vietnam COVID-19 Updates (March 15): Severe reaction found in 2 vaccine recipients According to a quick report from the vaccination sites, on March 14, two cases of severe reactions were recorded.

Vietnam COVID-19 Updates (March 15): Vietnam tourism consider Covid-19 vaccine passports The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is working with relevant agencies on a proposal to welcome vaccinated foreign tourists back to the country.

Vietnam COVID-19 Updates (March 13): Indian expert: Vietnam has "remarkable ability to contain the spread of contagious diseases" Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh welcomed its first international flight on March 12 after being closed for more than ...