Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long has cautioned that Vietnam is facing a high risk of the second coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection wave as the imported cases could attack the country at any time. Mr. Long issued the warning at a meeting of the national steering committee on fighting the COVID-19 on June 18. The move came as China’s Beijing had emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot in recent days after two months without community infection cases. The committee asked the anti-disease forces to be ready to cope with the possible new situation and tighten their management over entries and border gates. The committee highlighted that the country’s free-COVID-19 declaration needs more consideration as the country still has a few patients under treatment. The country also plans to repatriate some more citizens and welcome more foreign experts and hi-skilled workers. As of June 18 morning, Vietnam recorded 335 COVID-19 patients, 325 of whom have recovered and no deaths have been reported, the health ministry said, noting that the country has spent 63 consecutive days without community infection cases. Vietnam has so far had 195 imported infection cases and put them in isolation upon arrival, the health ministry added. (Cong Ly, congly)
