Vietnam wildlife

The Hanoitimes – Test results have shown that at least five out of 20 Indonesian sailors have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and one suspected case.

Five Indonesian sailors aboard Ocean Amazing ship that is anchored off Vietnam’s southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the provincial Steering Board for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

Foreign sailors are tested Covid-19 upon entry into Vietnam in December, 2020. Photo: Dong Ha

In the steering board’s report, the foreign ship has been on the way to deliver commodities from Indonesia since February 20. When it went across Vietnam’s waters, one of the sailors on the ship died due to an unidentified non-health-related issue.

The Vung Tau province’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) in coordination with related agencies have taken samples for the remaining 20 sailors on board in the first test for the novel coronavirus.

Test results have shown that at least five out of them have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and one suspected case, the provincial CDC said.

The second test is under way. If it too returns positive, the ship will be sent back to Indonesia for replacing the crew and disinfection before it can return to Vietnam with the cargo.

As of February 24, the sailors were still on the ship anchored at sea, and have not carried out procedures to enter Vietnam.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau province is waiting for the Ministry of Health’s direction for the case.

At the time of writing, Vietnam has had 2,412 Covid-19 cases, 585 still active.

The Hanoitimes – Phones and parts posted the largest export turnover among export items during January with US$6.1 billion, up US$3.4 billion against the same period of last year.

Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of US$2.09 billion in the first month of 2021, which remained a stark contrast from a deficit of US$300 million in the same period last year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC).

Production for exports at Garment 10 Company. Photo: Pham Hung.

In January, the country’s trade turnover stood at US$55 billion, representing an increase of 48.2% year-on-year, in which exports rose by 55.1% to US$28.55 billion and imports by 41.3% to US$7.74 billion.

According to the GDVC, foreign-invested sector posted a trade surplus of US$3.98 billion during the period, coming on the back of a 70% surge in exports year-on-year to US$21.57 billion, or over 75% of the country’s total export turnover.

Phones and parts posted the largest export turnover among export items during January with US$6.1 billion, up US$3.4 billion against the same period of last year.

In addition, electronic products, computers and components earned an estimated US$3.89 billion, up 46.2% year-on-year; garments (US$2.66 billion); equipment and parts (US$3.26 billion).

The US, China, EU, South Korea and ASEAN are the five largest buyers of Vietnamese goods in January.

Vietnam, meanwhile, mainly imported goods from China worth US$9.16 billion, up 64.1% year-on-year and accounting for 34.6% of the country’s total imports. South Korean came in the second place (US$4.75 billion), followed by ASEAN (US$3.18 billion) and Japan (US$1.68 billion).

The vaccine was jointly studied and produced by AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company and the UK’s Oxford University.

Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong highlighted the significance of the vaccine delivery at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is erupting in Hai Duong, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.

With the delivery, Vietnam has become one of the first countries in Asia to access a prestigious vaccine in the world.

In order to achieve the dual goal of fighting the pandemic and developing the economy, it is necessary to increase vaccination to reach community immunity, he said.

Apart from stepping up the trial and production of vaccines at home, the Health Ministry is working to import more vaccines from other producers as directed by the Government while preparing for vaccination in the priority list, he added.

Vu Thu Ha, Director of the Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC) – importer of the vaccine, said the batch will be brought to the VNVC’s super cold facilities for storage in line with the Government and Health Ministry’s regulations.

Result from clinical trials showed that 22 days after the first shot, AstraZeneca vaccine could fully protect people from serious illness, hospitalization and death caused by the novel coronavirus. Within 90 days, the vaccine’s potency could reach 76 percent.

Analyses showed that the vaccine could reduce infection risk by two thirds for cases without symptoms.

Source: VNA

The groups include health professionals, the pandemic prevention and fight task force (members of steering committees, people working in quarantining areas, reporters and others), diplomats, and customs and immigration staffs, military personnel, police force, teachers, and the elderly aged over 65.

Others include those working to maintain the supply of essential services such as aviation, transportation, tourism, electricity and water supply, as well as people with chronic diseases,people going abroad on a mission, to work, or study, and those in pandemic-hit areas.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced the plan on the reception, preservation, distribution, and use of COVID-19 vaccines during 2021-2022 with the support of the COVAX Facility – the global procurement mechanism of COVAX.

Vietnam aims to have 80 per cent of its population get vaccinated against COVID-19. However, due to the limited supply, the rate can hit 20 per cent in 2021-2022.

COVAX is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside key delivery partner UNICEF. Its aim is to accelerate the development and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.

The COVAX Facility aims to supply COVID-19 vaccines to 190 countries worldwide. On December 10, 2020, GAVI named Vietnam as a member nation. GAVI and COVAX Facility expect to provide COVID-19 vaccines for 20 per cent of the population of member nations.

In spite of this, it is currently estimated that the COVAX Facility will provide the vaccine and materials for vaccination free of charge for 15-16 per cent of the population of 92 countries, including Vietnam. On January 29, the COVAX Facility said that more than 4.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine produced by AstraZenecca will be delivered to Vietnam in the first half of this year, while the next delivery will be announced later.

As planned, around 600,000 Vietnamese people, comprising healthcare and COVID-19 combat workers, will be given shots in the first quarter. Meanwhile, 1.8 million customs officers, diplomats, army and police personnel, and teachers will be injected in the second quarter. During the second half, over 16 million teachers and people above 65 will access 33 million doses of vaccines to be provided by the COVAX Facility later.

At a recent online meeting with cities and provinces, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that in 2021 Vietnam will 150 million doses of the vaccine to ensure sufficient supply. The COVAX Facility has committed to supply 30 million doses for Vietnam this year, mainly used for the remaining six months of the year. AstraZeneca also committed to supply the same doses.

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