Iraqi health minister

With the highly contagious UK and Indian variants of COVID-19 detected in Vietnam, testing must be considered one of the most important parts of the fight against the pandemic, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said. Medical workers prepare to take samples for COVID-19 testing in Da Nang. The minister was speaking at the meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Monday morning. The country reported 125 locally acquired infections yesterday, the highest daily spike since the fourth wave began on April 27 and since the pandemic began earlier last year. The Indian variant, present in various clusters in the current outbreaks, was more transmissible and can spread quickly through the air, especially in closed spaces, Long said, adding that it was necessary to prepare for a worse scenario. Long said Vietnam’s testing capacity now was 1.7 times higher than during last year’s Da Nang outbreak, or the country's second wave. … [Read more...] about Testing key to defeating fourth wave of COVID-19: Health Minister

The data on electronic health declaration and entries and exits at public points taken via QR Code scanning have been put under control by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). The Covid-19 fighting strategy in the new period has been defined by the Government and PM with three ‘directions of attack’: active testing, mandatory technology use, and vaccinations. Closing the meeting on May 26, PM Pham Minh Chinh asked MIC to immediately implement the regulation on mandatory technology application in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces before implementing it nationwide. According to MIC Deputy Minister Nguyen Huy Dung, technologically, ‘attack’ means compulsorily using some key technologies and processing data in a concentrated way. MIC has said that workers in IZs and factories must use Bluezone to make health declarations. Meanwhile, people using smartphones have to install Bluezone and run the app that detects close contacts … [Read more...] about Health declarations, check-in data now under ministries’ control

“Saigon Times-Great Circle” donates necessities to health workers in two districts By Dung Nguyen A truck carrying relief from the “Saigon Times-Great Circle 2021” program arrives at the Medical Center of Go Vap District - PHOTOS: DUNG NGUYEN HCMC - The “Saigon Times-Great Circle 2021” program of the Saigon Times Group donated necessities to medical workers and employees of the medical centers of HCMC’s 12 and Go Vap districts this morning, June 19 to support them in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The necessities were contributed by Vinh Thanh Dat Food Corporation and Dr Thanh and Nescafé 3in1 brands. They included 150 boxes of cooling tea, 100 boxes of instant coffee and 500 bags of eggs. Go Vap District and Thanh Loc Ward of District 12 were among Covid-19 hospots of the city and they were put under stringent social distancing following the prime minister’s Directive No. 16 in the first half of this month. Go Vap is one of the districts hit the … [Read more...] about “Saigon Times-Great Circle” donates necessities to health workers in two districts

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the meeting between the cabinet and the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on the whole political system, army and people to join hands in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. He made the request while chairing a meeting between the cabinet and the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control on May 10 to discuss drastic measures against the pandemic. The PM asked the Ministry of Health to identify pandemic risk levels , issue stark warning, as well as pen measures and requirements of medical supplies for each level. The ministry must clarify the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses, and the exact dates they will come to the country, he said, adding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should join hands in the search for vaccine resources. He also asked the ministry to tighten discipline within the sector, and strictly … [Read more...] about PM calls for further vigilance against COVID-19

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) addresses Cabinet meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 10 requested ministries, ministerial-level agencies and relevant Government agencies to proactively develop scenarios to hold the upcoming elections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic while chairing a Cabinet meeting on election preparations. The PM asked the Ministry of Health to clarify criteria for localities on how to declare the pandemic and specific response measures. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Communications and press agencies were urged to expand dissemination on the elections and disease prevention and control measures on all means of communications, with diversified, rich, practical and effective forms. The ministries of National Defence and Public Security should stay ready to ensure security, safety and order at polling stations from now until the election day – May 23. The People's Committees at all levels need … [Read more...] about Ministries, agencies asked to effectively hold elections amidst pandemic

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the meeting with the press on May 11  (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has reiterated the need to strictly follow current COVID-19 prevention and control measures , especially given the scarcity of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. At a meeting with the press on May 11, Dam said that Vietnam has spared no effort to quickly gain access to vaccine sources for mass inoculation, but due to a global shortfall the Ministry of Health will only be able to import a small number of doses by the end of the year, making it impossible for the country to reach herd immunity. Vietnam has been among the best countries in combating COVID-19, he said, adding that it ranks 214th out of 220 countries and territories in terms of the number of confirmed cases per 1 million people. Hand sanitizer is among measures against COVID-19. (Photo: VNA) “This is a vivid illustration of the country’s sound strategies in … [Read more...] about Deputy PM orders strict implementation of COVID-19 prevention measures