Rising COVID-19 cases are driving up the use of therapeutics, with Pfizer Inc's oral antiviral treatment Paxlovid seeing a 315% jump over the past four weeks, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday. The increase in U.S. cases and hospitalizations is starting to affect recommendations on behavior, with New York City, the nation's most populous city, advising stricter mask usage but stopping short of new mandates. Apple has scrapped return to office plans. "Increasingly, we'll see this virus hit people who are substantially older, frail, have underlying illnesses, or are distinctly immunocompromised," said Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. "But we now have better treatments and many of those people will leave the hospital vertically rather than horizontally." The United States is averaging nearly 97,000 new cases a day, up from about 73,000 a week ago, according to a Reuters tally. Cases have been gradually … [Read more...] about As U.S. COVID-19 cases rise, so does demand for antivirals
Sectors most impacted by covid 19
Additional 1,831 Covid-19 infections confirmed on Wednesday
An additional 1,831 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed on Wednesday, raising the national tally to over 10.70 million, according to the Ministry of Health. According to the ministry's report, most of the new patients are locally-transmitted cases confirmed in 48 out of 63 localities in the country with some localities seeing the highest numbers including Hanoi (403), Vinh Phuc (139), Phu Tho (125), Bac Ninh (80), and Nghe An (80). As of Wednesday evening, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to over 10.70 million. The country now stands 12th among 227 countries and territories worldwide in the number of infections. On May 18, an additional 8,437 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 9.37 million. On Wednesday evening, one death related to Covid-19 was announced, total fatalities stayed at 43,072. By May 17, the country had injected more than 217 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including … [Read more...] about Additional 1,831 Covid-19 infections confirmed on Wednesday
Strict visa policies hinder international guests from visiting Vietnam
Because of strict visa policies, promotions to attract international tourists have not been as effective as expected, according to many businesses. Enterprises have made huge investments to welcome back tourists, but such illogical visa policies may slow down the tourism recovery pace. Being confused and facing difficulties Many travel companies in Da Nang City told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that visa policies for foreign tourists were still their biggest concern. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Vietnam offered the visa waiver policy for citizens of many countries and the normal visa approval period was three to five days (visas which were valid for 30 days). However, the list of countries whose citizens are entitled to Vietnam’s visa waiver policy has been shortened and the visa processing period has been lengthened, putting enterprises at a disadvantage. Cao Tri Dung, chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of … [Read more...] about Strict visa policies hinder international guests from visiting Vietnam
Việt Nam, Singapore to expand cooperation in digital transformation, green economy: Legislative leaders
National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ and his Singaporean counterpart Tan Chuan-Jin held talks in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn HÀ NỘI — Speaker of Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-jin and Chairman of Vietnamese National Assembly have agreed that successful economic cooperation will elevate bilateral relations during the official talks on Wednesday in Hà Nội. The Singaporean parliament leader is in the capital for a three-day visit on the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart. NA Chair Huệ said the ‘miraculous development’ of Singapore with the wise vision of the leadership and the aspirations of the people are always a source of inspiration to Vietnamese leadership and people. Amid complicated regional and global geopolitical, economic developments, the two countries should tighten relations, including between the legislations to contribute to the advancement of the Strategic Partnership. Speaker Chuan-jin said his visit to Việt Nam is a chance for … [Read more...] about Việt Nam, Singapore to expand cooperation in digital transformation, green economy: Legislative leaders
Defense leader meets with U.S. and U.N. officials
The Vietnamese general led a high-ranking Vietnamese military delegation to accompany Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh who was on his working trip to the U.S. to attend the ASEAN - U.S. Special Summit. On May 16, at the U.N. Headquarters, Sr. Lt. Gen. Pham Hoai Nam worked with General Birame Diop, military adviser and assistant secretary-general. At the meeting, the Vietnamese general thanked the U.N. for choosing and supporting Vietnam in deploying the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 and the Engineering Company Rotation 1 to the U.N. peacekeeping missions in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Abyei (UNISFA). He hoped that the U.N. will continue backing Vietnam to deploy its military medical and engineering forces to suitable U.N. peacekeeping missions as well as to run for high positions at U.N. missions and headquarters. Gen. Nam suggested the U.N. expands cooperation in other fields with priority given to war legacy settlement, and humanitarian assistance and disaster consequence … [Read more...] about Defense leader meets with U.S. and U.N. officials
Effective policy implementation crucial for Vietnam to reach high-income status by 2045: WB
Institutions have become a major impediment to the nation’s aspiration to reach high income by 2045. Vietnam needs to shift its economic growth model and improve the government’s capacity to implement economic policy reforms and public investments, realizing its aspiration of reaching high-income status by 2045, a World Bank Group report says. Overview of the report launch. The World Bank Group’s Systematic Country Diagnostic Update, themed "How Will Vietnam Blossom? Reforming Institutions for Effective Implementation,” emphasizes that Vietnam's traditional growth model faces major challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, slowing globalization, and the country’s increasing vulnerability to external shocks, especially climate risks. After identifying a series of policy responses and reform priorities, many of which are not new, the report argues that adapting institutions will be the key to success. “Vietnam’s GDP per capita has increased fivefold over the … [Read more...] about Effective policy implementation crucial for Vietnam to reach high-income status by 2045: WB