Vietnam aims to complete offering the second shot of Covid-19 vaccine to people aged 12 to 18 and the third shot to those aged over 18, by the end of the first quarter of this year. Photo: VOV

Covid-19: Daily infections fall to 163,000, 176,000 more patients recover

The Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed 163,174 coronavirus infections in Vietnam during the past 24 hours, a fall of more than 10,000 cases compared to the previous day.

Of the total, 163,165 cases were locally acquired, with 109,601 cases documented in the community, the MoH said in its coronavirus update released at 06pm on March 18.

Most of the cases were recorded in northern Vietnam, with Hanoi capital topping localities as it registered 23,358 new cases, down 1,733 cases from a day ago.

The capital was followed by Nghe An, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh and Lang Son provinces that reported 9,968, 8,042, 6,488 and 5,011 new infections respectively, cited VOV.

Official data from the MoH show the daily average number of new infections recorded in Vietnam in the past seven days was 170,600.

As of 06pm on March 18, Vietnam has detected 7,367,112 Covid-19 cases since the start of the outbreak, ranking 14th out of 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Of the infected patients, 3,861,959 have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease, and 41,740 patients have died of the virus.

More than 201 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide.

EU among Vietnam’s most important partners: official

Vietnam always considers the EU one of its most important partners, with the comprehensive partnership and cooperation, particularly between their parliaments, obtaining many achievements for the sake of their people and for peace, collaboration and development in the two continents and the world.

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha made his statement on March 18 at virtual meeting between the NA and the European Parliament (EP) on the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the second of its kind so far.

The legislator stressed economic cooperation is a highlight in the Vietnam – EU relations, adding that bilateral trade grew quickly after the EVFTA came into force on August 1, 2020 and hit US$57 billion in 2021.

Regarding the realization of the FTA, Ha said the sides have resolved some differences through the dialogue mechanism and periodic meetings of committees involved. He hoped the work to continue in the time to come.

Vietnam has amended and promulgated a series of new decrees, resolutions and circulars in the fields of tariffs, agriculture, goods origin and trade remedies, among others, he added.

At the event. Photo: VNA

Ha also mentioned obstacles facing Vietnamese enterprises, including Covid-19-induced supply chain disruption and travel restrictions as well as problems in the procedures for issuing certificates of origin, reported VNA.

He suggested the EP and EU offer Vietnam technical and resources assistance to capitalize on the pact and response to its technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary/phyto-sanitary (SPS).

The official proposed the EU soon lift the “yellow card” warning regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing imposed on Vietnam to boost bilateral exports; and launch programs to support capacity building and competitiveness improvement for Vietnamese seafood exporters.

He went on to say that it is also necessary to pilot allowing Vietnamese exporters to self-certify origin as the EVFTA has yet to specify a time to apply this mechanism; and to accelerate the training and development of human resources, especially high-quality ones to solve the labour shortage due to Covid-19.

Ha asked the EP to call on the remaining member countries to complete the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so that the pact will take effect soon, creating a stronger impetus to promote the comprehensive ties between the sides.

Participating EP parliamentarians lauded progresses made in the EVFTA implementation so far and the sides’ related exchange and dialogue mechanisms.

Vietnam to produce Pfizer’s Covid-19 treatment pills

Vietnamese pharmaceutical company Stellapharm has been licensed by international public health group Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to produce Pfizer's Covid-19 treatment pills containing the active ingredient nirmatrelvir.

Stellapharm represents the only Vietnamese enterprise among 35 companies throughout 12 countries that have been franchised by MPP to produce such pills.

The 12 licensed franchisees include firms in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Jordan, India, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Serbia, the Republic of Korea, and Vietnam.

Pfizer's drug, which is to be sold under the commercial name Paxlovid, was granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December, 2021.

Vietnamese enterprise Stellapharm has been licensed to produce Paxlovid, Pfizer's Covid-19 pills. Photo: Reuters

Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) all allowed the drug to be used to treat patients from the age of 12, as well as old people suffering from underlying diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

The drug reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by 88%, whilst it is also effective against the Omicron variant, according to health experts, VOV reported.

Charles Gore, CEO of MPP, said nirmatrelvir is a new pharmaceutical product that requires significant manufacturing capacity, adding those franchisees have demonstrated their capability to meet MPP's requirements and produce products meeting international quality standards.

The franchise is expected to help bring the drug to countries that make up around 53% of the world’s population.

In December 2021, Pfizer, the owner of the nirmatrelvir drug patent, authorized MPP to review applications and sign contracts with pharmaceutical companies which are eligible to produce the drug in the global supply chain.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health sent an official dispatch to the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Companies Association, requesting that local drug manufacturers be notified to submit their documents to become a franchise partner.

Earlier in January, Stellapharm was the only local pharmaceutical company licensed by MPP to produce drug maker MSD’s molnupiravir. The oral drug has been supplied to 105 low and middle-income countries.

At present, there are four types of antiviral active ingredients available to treat Covid-19 in Vietnam. Remdesivir is intravenously used for critically-ill patients, while molnupiravir, favipiravir, and nirmatrelvir are treatment pills for patients with mild symptoms.

At present, there are currently four types of antiviral active ingredients available to treat Covid-19, including remdesivir which is intravenously used for critically-ill patients, and three types of treatment pills, including molnupiravir, favipiravir, and nirmatrelvir for patients with mild symptoms.

Seventh to 12th graders in Hanoi to resume in-person learning

Vice Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran Luu Hoa on March 18 signed a document on the safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of Covid-19 during the organization of in-person classes for students from 7th to 12th grades in the city.

Under the document, relevant agencies and schools were asked to apply measures to control Covid-19 during the face-to-face learning process and handle infections in time to ensure utmost safety for students and teachers, cited VNA.

Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

They were requested to get regularly updated about pandemic prevention and control regulations in schools from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training and the city, while actively building their plans to resume face-to-face learning for students from 7th to 12th grades and submit them to the People’s Committees of districts and townships for approval.

The department assigned the Education-Training Divisions of districts and townships to give advice to the People’s Committees on the approval of the plans.

Seventh to 12th graders across the city have been allowed to return to school from early February following the department's decision issued on January 25. However, students in some high-risk areas have had to study online due to the complicated developments of the pandemic.

Public bicycle-sharing service in Hanoi in the offing

The government of Hanoi has approved the municipal transport authority’s plan to offer a public bicycle-sharing service in five inner-city districts in the capital city.

According to the city’s Department of Transport, the plan will be implemented in two phases.

A local man uses the public bicycle service in HCM City. The government of Hanoi has approved a plan to offer a public bicycle-sharing service in five inner-city districts in the capital city. Photo: LDO

In the first phase from 2022 to 2023, the city will provide 1,000 bicycles, including 500 traditional vehicles and 500 electric ones at 70-80 locations in the districts of Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, Dong Da and Thanh Xuan and other places near the Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway stations.

In the second phase from 2023 to 2024, the service will be expanded to other districts, with around 3,000 bicycles offered at 350 locations, VNN reported.

This pubic bicycle-sharing project requires some VND26 billion in investment backed by the investor. The project will be piloted in 18 months. Proposed fees for electric bicycles are approximately VND20,000 per hour or VND200,000 per day. The project’s investor proposed the municipal government support it in selecting some places to set up charging stations.

Earlier, in mid-December last year, the public bicycle-sharing service was launched in HCMC and attracted a positive response from the public.

Vietnam News Today (Mar. 18): Vietnam, Cuba Enhance Defense Links Vietnam News Today (Mar. 18): Vietnam, Cuba enhance defense links; Experts highlight Vietnam’s positive economic outlook; Vietnam, New Zealand hold consultation on issues within IPEF ...

Vietnam News Today (Mar. 17): No Medical Isolation Requirements Set for Foreign Arrivals Vietnam News Today (Mar. 17): Vietnam records 180,558 new Covid-19 cases on March 16; No medical isolation requirements set for foreign arrivals; Vietnam calls for ...

Vietnam News Today (Mar. 16): Vietnam Fully Reopens Borders to Tourists After Pandemic Hiatus Vietnam News Today (Mar. 16): Covid-19 infection count sharply rises to over 175,000; Vietnam fully reopens borders to tourists after pandemic hiatus; Vietnam to triple ...