Two more patients have been declared COVID-19-free following treatment at hospital.

The total number of people who have made a full recovery from the virus now stands at 203, more than three-quarters of everyone who has tested positive nationwide.

The latest two patients, both Vietnamese, tested positive after arriving in the country from the UK.

They were successfully treated at the Bạc Liêu Provincial General Hospital in Bạc Liêu southern Province.

Patient 156, a 21-year-old man, was admitted to the hospital on March 27. During treatment, he was tested three times between April 12 to 16 and all results came back negative for SARS-CoV-2.

Patient 241 is a 20-year-old man. He was admitted to the hospital on April 1 and also tested negative on April 9, 12 and 16.

At present, they are showing no signs of fever or coughing. The two men will continue to be isolated and monitored for the next 14 days, according to the Treatment Sub-Committee of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

As of Sunday morning, the Ministry of Health reported no new COVID-19 cases over the past three days. The country’s total amount of patients with the novel coronavirus still stands at 268 and no fatalities have been reported.

The world has nearly 2,331,000 patients with COVID-19, including more than 160,700 deaths in 211 countries and territories, according to Việt Nam’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. 

Health official holds wedding for son in violation of COVID-19 prevention regulations

A hospital deputy director in the central province of Hà Tĩnh has been found to have held a wedding for his son, violating COVID-19 prevention orders that were already in place.

Director of the Hà Tĩnh Department of Health Lê Ngọc Châu confirmed that Lê Anh Hùng, deputy director of the Hương Khê District General Hospital, had indeed committed the violation and he would face disciplinary warning.

Earlier, reports surfaced that Hùng held a wedding ceremony for his son on March 31 despite regulations banning large gatherings to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading. 

Many condemned the action and criticised the hospital's executive for failure to "set an example."

Hà Tĩnh People’s Committee on April 2 sent a letter to the director of the provincial Department of Health asking for a work suspension for Hùng while further punishment is considered. 

HCM City steps up inspections of COVID-19 prevention measures

An online briefing of the HCM City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Disease Prevention and Control held last week. Periodic inspections of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures will be conducted across the city. — Photo www.sggp.org.vn

Lê Thanh Liêm, deputy chairman of the HCM City People's Committee, has asked departments, sectors and relevant agencies to conduct random and periodic inspections of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures across the city.

Speaking at an online briefing held on Friday, Liêm asked local officials to strictly comply with the Prime Minister’s Directive No 16/CT-TTg on the implementation of urgent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as the city’s social distancing order. 

“Implementing measures in disease prevention and control can be a long and continuous process, ” Liêm said, adding that all relevant agencies and localities must not be negligent in enforcing disease prevention and control measures. 

He asked the city’s Department of Industry and Trade to work with district-level agencies to inspect the operation of wholesale markets, trade centres, supermarkets and shopping malls.

These markets must strictly comply with preventive measures, and buyers and sellers must keep a safe distance of at least two metres between each other. 

Local authorities must also check crowds of people gathering for morning exercise at parks and public places. Gatherings of more than two people are banned until at least April 22.

Liêm asked the Department of Education and Training to devise a set of criteria for disease prevention and control in schools.

The municipal People’s Committee will soon issue an official document on criteria for disease prevention and control to be used after the reopening of restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, karaoke parlours, cinemas, theatres and other entertainment places. 

Ngô Minh Châu, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, praised the efforts of departments, relevant agencies and localities in following the PM’s Directive and the city’s orders.

“The city is proactively implementing measures and seeing positive results in the fight against COVID-19,” he said.

The city has fined people who have spread false information and fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic, and people and businesses that have made face masks that do not meet quality standards.

Fines have also been given to people who were not wearing face masks in public or not complying with regulations that restrict  leaving home. 

However, many people are still gathering in groups at coffee shops, and exercising and not wearing face masks in public places. 

In addition, many sellers and buyers at traditional markets are not keeping a safe distance from each other. 

Châu asked all districts to regularly check the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Any carelessness or false information may destroy the city’s efforts through this long process,” he said.

The police  will also take measures to prevent illegal motorcycle racing on streets that are now uncrowded because of the pandemic. 

Safe distance services allowed in central region

The latest extension to social distancing rules set by the Prime Minister will mean limited services will be operating in Đà Nẵng City.

Pharmacies, banks, petrol stations and supermarkets, along with water supply and telecommunication services will remain open. 

Members of the public must wear a facemask in public and stay two metres apart or potentially face administrative fines.

Schools and universities will remain closed, and there will be no public transport or taxis on the roads.

Coffee shops and restaurants will only be allowed to offer a limited online-only delivery service, according to city officials. 

Meanwhile the central Thừa Thiên-Huế provincial people’s committee decided to reduce clean water bills by 10 per cent between April and June.

The provincial committee is also in discussions with power companies to introduce similar reductions to help residents.

A Japanese company, M&H Industry Việt Nam donated 30,000 face masks worth VNĐ150 million ($6,500) to the provincial Fatherland Front in joining hands for the COVID-19 fight on Wednesday.

The province also fined three people for fake news posting on facebook during COVID-19 isolation time with total VNĐ37.5 million (US$1,600) on Wednesday.

One person had posted false information claiming a child had been kidnapped. 

Medical supplies presented to Lao security departments

Medical supplies and necessities were donated to the Security Departments of the Lao provinces of Salavan and Sekong on Saturday

The Public Security Department of central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province on Saturday presented medical supplies and necessities to the Security Departments of the Lao provinces of Salavan and Sekong to support their fight against COVID-19.

The gifts include 10,000 face masks, 50 sets of protective clothing, 1,000 pairs of medical gloves, disinfection machines, two tonnes of rice and 200 boxes of instant noodles, with a combined value of VNĐ200 million (US$8,570).

Agencies and organisations in the central province also gave more than 1,300 bottles of hand santiniser, 1,000 face masks, 100 boxes of instant noodles, among others to the Security Departments of Laos.

The gifts will help Lao officers, soldiers and people in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and tighten relations between the Thừa Thiên-Huế Public Security Department and the Security Departments of Salavan and Sekong.

Thừa Thiên-Huế shares a 84-kilometre border with the two Lao provinces. 

German newspaper highlights Vietnam’s measures against COVID-19

Cars in a road in Quang Nam province are being disinfected.

Germany’s Junge Welt (Young People) daily on April 18 ran an article explaining why Vietnam can contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The article said the number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam is significantly fewer than that in many countries in Europe and America.

The reason for this is the rapid concentrated quarantine of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 that causes the respiratory disease, along with appropriate measures to quarantine those who have been in contact with the patients, it elaborated.

With the aim of swiftly detecting as many as possible people included in the contact list and quarantine them, Vietnam has put the pandemic under control.

However, the country still maintains its strict regulations in the fight against the epidemic, such as closing schools, kindergartens, restaurants and shops that do not provide food and daily supplies.

Besides, wearing face masks when going out is compulsory, and any violations will get punishments.

The article said when a person in Vietnam tests positive for the virus, competent forces will immediately conduct contact tracing and quarantine.

Right after dozens of COVID-19 cases relating to Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital late March were reported, the hospital had been closed and thousands of people linked to it had been placed under special medical supervision.

The infected people are monitored at quarantine areas, including military facilities, while others quarantine themselves at home. Those who cannot go shopping or receive no food from their families will be supported by authorities of residential areas. The observance of medical quarantine regulations is under close supervision.

Vietnamese Embassy in Canada warns citizens against unlicensed flights

The Vietnamese Embassy in Canada has warned Vietnamese citizens against engaging in financial transactions with organisations or individuals that pledge to arrange flights back to Vietnam that are not licensed by the Vietnamese government.

The Embassy made the warning after it and the Consulate General in Canada received reports that some organisations and individuals were collecting deposits to organise flights to bring Vietnamese citizens in Canada back to Vietnam.

The Embassy affirmed that Vietnamese representative agencies in Canada are actively coordinating with authorised agencies back in Vietnam to respond to the wish to go back to Vietnam of Vietnamese citizens in accordance with the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s instructions.

Under the Government’s instruction, priority will be given to children under 18 years old, the elderly and the sick when repatriation flights are arranged, the Embassy said.

After such flights are licensed by the Government, the representative agencies will officially notify the citizens of the flights and relevant information.

The Embassy asked the citizens to stay vigilant, and not to provide their personal information and engage in financial transactions with organisations and individuals that use the name of the representative agencies to collect money for unlicensed flights.

Vietnamese representative agencies in Canada have received more than 1,100 applications registering for repatriation flights so far, which have been transferred to competent agencies at home for consideration.

Vice President commends inventor of “rice ATM” machine

The "rice ATM" model has been rolled out in many localities nationwide.

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh has sent a letter to the inventor of the so-called “rice ATM” to praise his creativity that helps those in disadvantaged circumstances during the pandemic.

In the letter to Hoang Tuan Anh, director of the PHG Lock company in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vice President said his rice ATM project has had a good ripple effect, persuading hundreds of people to donate several dozen tonnes of rice, thus helping thousands of needy people amid the pandemic.

The model has been multiplied across the country, from Hanoi, Hoa Binh in the north, to Da Nang, Hue, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak in the central region, to Can Tho, Ca Mau in the south.

Vice President Thinh stressed that millions of organisations and individuals in and outside the country have responded to the call of Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, instructions of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a campaign launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic through many useful ideas and good deeds.

She affirmed the belief that with the people’s unity and solidarity with the Party and State, Vietnam will overcome the present difficult period and win over the pandemic.

The Vice President welcomed and commended the work of Hoang Tuan Anh and all the compassionate and brave deeds of the people in the fight against the pandemic, leaving no one behind.

Russian media hails Vietnam’s quick response to COVID-19

With drastic quarantine measures and social unity, Vietnam is effectively controlling the COVID-19 epidemic, according to an article on the website Lenta.ru of Russia.

The article emphasised that Vietnam's response to the COVID-19 crisis deserves appreciation from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Despite sharing the border with China, where the disease broke out, the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Vietnam to date is more than 260 cases and no deaths have been recorded, it said.

Early response is the most important factor leading to the country’s success in controlling the epidemic, the article said, quoting WHO’s Chief Representative in Vietnam Kidong Park as saying that Vietnam has responded to this outbreak early and actively right after China reported first cases of COVID-19.

It listed a host of measures that Vietnam has taken to contain the spread of the disease, including establishing the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control headed by a Deputy Prime Minister, outlining a national response plan, closing schools, carrying out large-scale quarantine, suspending international flights, and applying other disease preventative regulations.

The article noted that despite recording only a small number of new COVID-19 cases since April 1, the date social distancing regulations took effect, Vietnam has not yet mentioned easing the above measures, and are still restricting entry into and exit from the country.

Vietnam's success, it went on, can be explained by social unity which is expressed in discipline and solidarity of the people, as well as their compliance with relevant regulations.

Lao sees positive signs in controlling COVID-19

Laos hailed positive signs in the fight against COVID-19 as the country has not detected any new cases of infections on the seventh consecutive day on April 19.

Speaking at a press conference on April 19 afternoon, Lao Deputy Health Minister Phouthone Meuangpak said the number of COVID-19 cases há stopped at 19 so far, with two patients cured and discharged from hospital.

As of April 18, Laos had 11,586 people being under quarantine, he said.

Despite the positive situation, the Lao government has still maintained social distancing measures.

The Lao government has decided to extend social distancing and the closure of educational institutions at all grades to May 3.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 172 new infection cases and 12 more deaths, bringing its total to 6,259, including 409 deaths.

COVID-19: Cambodia extends school closure

Cambodian students - Illustrative image (Photo: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/)

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) of Cambodia has announced that the re-opening of schools has been postponed until further notice as preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

According to a directive issued by the ministry on April 17, the extension of school suspensions covers all educational institutions at all levels and forms, both public and private.

The ministry urged all educational institutions to promote and support distance learning and e-learning.

Educational institutions have been ordered to close since March 16 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

As of April 18, the total number of COVID-19 infections in Cambodia has remained at 122 for the sixth day in a row.

In an effort to prevent the disease, the Phnom Penh authority on April 17 said it was ready to quarantine more than 15,000 textile workers who were preparing to return to the capital after the traditional New Year of the Khmer.

Thai Navy slashes 2020 budget by 33 percent to help fight COVID-19

Illustrative image (Photo: The Nation/Asia News Network)

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) will slash its fiscal 2020 budget by 33 percent (equivalent to 4,100 billion THB or 126 million USD) to help the government fight COVID-19, said Vice Admiral Prachachat Sirisawat, the Navy's spokesman, on April 18.

The government has asked all ministries to cut their budgets and contribute the excess to the central budget to help compensate the general public whose lives have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, or to be used in emergency situations, he said.

Commander-in-Chief of the RTN, Admiral Luechai Rutdit, therefore ordered the Navy to cut its budget for 2020 by 33 percent — by 4.1 billion THB — which is higher than what the government has asked.

RTN will also postpone the procurement of the second and third submarines to 2021 although the purchases were to be made from the RTN’s own budget and not of the Ministry of Defense, the spokesman added.

This also means other submarine-related projects will be suspended too, such as the construction of submarine bays and maintenance facilities.

Other Navy projects that will be affected by the budget cut include: anti-submarine helicopters’ overhaul, network centric database system, training equipment procurement, and the construction of apartments for RTN personnel, he said.

Thailand on April 19 reported 32 new coronavirus cases, bringing its total to 2,765, with 47 deaths, according to spokesperson for the Thai government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration Taweesin Wisanuyothin.