Two more discharges reduce active COVID-19 cases in Vietnam to 96

According to the Subcommittee of Treatment under the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the patients given the all-clear today were a British man and a Vietnamese national.

The duo help increase the recovery rate in Vietnam to 64%, with a total of 171 patients having recovered from the disease out of the 267 confirmed cases in the country so far.

The 34-year-old Vietnamese national (Patient 145) was treated at Can Tho Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Hospital. He had his first negative test result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on April 12, followed by a second on April 13 and a third negative test a day later, meaning he was then eligible to be declared as recovered.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old British national (Patient 235) was released from the Cu Chi field hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The patient tested negative for the first time on April 6, followed by the next two consecutive negative test results on April 8 and 9, thereby becoming eligible for the all-clear.

The duo will continue to practice self-isolation and their health will be monitored for the next 14 days.

The remaining 96 COVID-19 patients are being treated at medical examination and treatment facilities across the nation.

Social distancing to be kept in high-risk localities

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control today agreed to propose Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc apply social distancing policies for at least one more week in localities with high risks.

At the committee’s latest meeting, its members said that Vietnam has controlled the disease well thanks to the implementation of social distancing measures as regulated in the PM’s Directive No.16/CT-TTg across a two-week period from April 1-15.

However, the disease’s developments remain complicated, they stated, stressing the need for more drastic measures to deal with it, and at the same time protect people’s lives and production and business activities.

The committee reached a consensus on putting forward compulsory regulations for all localities, such as continuing to wear face masks, banning big gatherings, keeping a distance of at least two metres between people, and ensuring hygiene. Important political, economic and social events will be organised in accordance with instructions on medical supervision to ensure safety.

In localities with a low risk of disease outbreaks, several production and business activities can be resumed once sanitation is guaranteed.

Regarding travel, the committee agreed to propose the Government maintain the implementation of measures to prevent infection from outside the country. Inside the country, each locality will carry out its specific restrictions based on its risk level, while the Health Ministry will also coordinate with the Transport Ministry to issue detailed regulations.

Along with increased communications to raise public awareness of disease prevention and control, the committee suggested the Prime Minister direct relevant agencies to strictly punish any violations.

Hanoi proposes to extend social restrictions until April 30

Meanwhile, Hanoi Party Committee today agreed with the proposal from the capital city’s Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in proposing PM Phuc extend the social restrictions in Hanoi until the end of April.

At a meeting of the Hanoi Municipal Party Committee this morning to evaluate the results following the two-week implementation of the PM’s Directive No.16, Hanoi Party Committee Secretary Vuong Dinh Hue urged local authorities to maintain the smoothness of the city’s political system and ensure medical examination and treatment as well as production and business activities permitted under the PM’s directive.

Along with that, he also asked Hanoi authorities to actively implement both the Government and the city's support packages in a timely manner so that support makes it to the right subjects in a transparent manner.

20 tonnes of rice given to disadvantaged labourers

Nearly 20 tonnes of rice have been presented to migrant workers facing difficulties due to COVID-19 in the northern port city of Hai Phong, thanks to efforts from the Hai Phong Labour Confederation and local businesses, trade unions and philanthropists.

From April 9 to 15, the confederation mobilised its units, local businesses and trade unions to donate 19.5 tonnes of rice to nearly 2,000 migrant workers currently residing in boarding houses in the city.