Vietnam enters 13th consecutive day without new COVID-19 infections

As of this morning, the tally still stands at 1,063. Of the total, 691 were infected in the community, 926 have recovered fully, and 35 died from complications related to the disease.

Among those still under treatment, 13 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, 13 others twice and 19 three times. Three patients are in severe conditions.

There are 32,578 people that had close contact with confirmed cases or came from pandemic-hit regions who are under quarantine at present.

As the pandemic has been gradually controlled, localities that have recorded COVID-19 infections, particularly Da Nang – the epicentre of the second COVID-19 wave in Vietnam – have basically returned to normal status after a series of days in medical blockade.

However, as the risk of the epidemic remains permanent and new infection cases may appear in the community, especially when Vietnam reopens its borders in the near future, the Prime Minister and the Government have asked the concerned ministries, agencies and localities to continue thoroughly implementing measures set under the dual goals of both resuming socio-economic activities and fighting against COVID-19.

Notably, the reopening of international flight routes is important to the nation’s economic activities but also poses potential risks regarding COVID-19 transmission. In order to ensure safety when reopening international commercial routes, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the relevant authorities have decided to delay the resumption, which was previously set to begin today.

Yesterday afternoon, the MOT chaired a working session with the relevant ministries and agencies to discuss the plan to reopen international routes to destinations in countries that have put COVID-19 under control, as well as the routes with high transportation demand for Vietnamese airlines under the direction of the Prime Minister.

The MOT and concerned authorities decided to halt the resumption and agreed to continue to clarify relevant conditions and factors to ensure the safety of the community, before submitting them to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on September 17 for a final decision, as announced by a representative from the MOT yesterday evening.

Previously, at a cabinet meeting regarding COVID-19 prevention and control on September 11, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the MOT to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to gradually and cautiously increase the flight frequency from low-risk countries to bring foreign experts, investors and skilled workers to Vietnam, as well as to repatriate Vietnamese citizens back home. Specific flight schedules are considered and decided by Deputy PMs Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam.

The PM also asked the local People's Committees to organise isolation for such groups of arrivals right after their entry at the local charging accommodations. The Ministry of Health was asked to focus on directing and coordinating other ministries and agencies in guiding the medical examination and monitoring as well as testing for those entering Vietnam upon the reopening of international commercial routes.

* At an online meeting on COVID-10 prevention and control in Ho Chi Minh City on September 14, Le Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee asked the local authorities and units to regularly and strictly implement the prevention and control measures despite the pandemic is under control in Vietnam, saying that the city must always be ready to respond to new infections in the community, especially when Vietnam reopens international routes.

* Hai Duong Province has decided to remove the medical blockade on four more residential clusters in Hai Duong City – the province’s capital – from 0:00 on September 15. Until today, seven out of eight blockaded residential areas in Hai Duong City have been cleared from the medical isolation order.

* On September 14, the Health Department of the central province of Quang Nam reported that two recovered COVID-19 patients had recently tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus during self-quarantine after treatment.

They are Patients 549 and 550, both female and residing at Bao Thang Pagoda in Hoi An City’s Son Phong Ward. They tested positive for the first time on August 1. Both women did not leave their residence or interact with anyone during quarantine. They are now under quarantine at the Quang Nam General Hospital, with all people living at the pagoda being tested. The pagoda closed on August 1, and no related community transmissions have been recorded.
* On the same day, Vinh Long Province greeted 160 Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Singapore for 14-day isolation at a local camp in Loan My Commune, Tam Binh District. The citizens were brought home on a flight of Pacific Airlines landing at Can Tho International Airport in the Mekong Delta city of the same name that day. So far, Vinh Long has provided concentrated medical isolation for a total of 1,178 Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad.