Some proposed conducting tests at airports and expand the testing capacity at hospitals and crowded events.

Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long lauded the efforts by medical bio-product manufacturers in recent times, saying the locally-made test products have contributed to the initial successes Vietnam has gained in the pandemic combat.

Passengers undergoing entry procedures at Noi Bai International Airport.

The ministry will facilitate the research and production of test products to better serve the fight against the pandemic in the new situation, he pledged.

* The Centre for Disease Control of Hai Duong Province announced that it has taken a total of 1,784 serum samples from local people at high risk of Covid-19 infection since September 4 in order to carry out ELISA tests to determine the immune status after SARS-CoV-2 infection. All of these samples were transferred to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for testing and analysis.

* On September 9, Hue Regional Centre for Haematology and Blood Transfusion (under the Hue Central Hospital) collected 150 units of blood from voluntary blood donors to support treatment amid the prevalence of Covid-19. 297 units of blood have been collected in previous satellite blood donations. The centre has helped to guarantee a source of blood to serve the emergency treatment of patients with Covid-19 in Hue, as well as providing nearly 500 units of blood and blood products to hospitals in the neighbouring city of Da Nang.

* From 0:00 on September 10, Quang Tri Province will allow all no-essential services and entertainment facilities to resume their operations, following a decision to ease restrict social distancing in the locality. Local people returning from Da Nang and epidemic-hit areas will not be forced to undergo concentrated quarantine but should perform home isolation and provide samples for PCR tests. Since August 14, 28 days have passed without any new Covid-19 infections recorded in Quang Tri.

* Hanoi authorities have decided on the reduction of running water bills for some subjects affected by Covid-19 epidemic in the capital city. Specifically, 11 water supply units in Hanoi will reduce 100% of the water bills for April, May and June this year for quarantine camps and medical facilities hosting Covid-19 infected and suspected cases in the city. The support will be extended to the next corresponding billing periods.

Vietnam Airlines to cut salaries of pilots, flight attendants by half

Vietnam Airlines, whose revenues have nosedived due to the Covid-19 crisis, plans to cut the salaries of pilots and flight attendants by around half.

Vietnam flight to repatriate 120 Covid-19 infectees leaves for Equatorial Guinea

An unprecedented flight departed from Hanoi on Tuesday morning to bring home 219 Vietnamese workers, of whom 120 are Covid-19 positive, from Equatorial Guinea.

“Youth Flight” repatriates over 200 Vietnamese citizens from Japan

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines conducted a special flight named “Youth Flight” to bring home more than 200 Vietnamese citizens from Japan on July 27.

More flights to evacuate tourists from Da Nang amid Covid-19 fears

An increased number of flights will be operated to ferry home 80,000 people, mostly local tourists, stranded in Da Nang following the fresh Covid-19 outbreak there.

Over 50 more flights to be arranged to bring Vietnamese citizens home

From now to the end of August 2020, the aviation sector will continue working with diplomatic and military agencies to conduct 50 more flights to bring over 13,000 Vietnamese citizens home, according to head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) Dinh Viet Thang.

Source: NDO