Buzz
It's almost certain that by the beginning of March, students will return to school. However, it's uncertain whether university students will also return, as their return poses a potential risk of infection, especially for those traveling from other provinces to the city for classes. Today marks the commencement of phase 2 clinical trials for the Nanocovax vaccine in Long An and Hanoi provinces. In addition to the anticipated acquisition of 150 million doses of vaccines from abroad through various aid programs, having a domestically produced vaccine is an excellent preventive measure to avoid dependence on others.
Situation in Vietnam
From 1-3, Ho Chi Minh City allows the resumption of certain non-essential services excluding sectors such as nightclubs, bars, karaoke lounges, pubs, beer clubs, and indoor sports facilities.
The Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City agrees to let schools reopen dormitories for students and operate canteens to cater to their dining needs, while still adhering to pandemic prevention measures.
Yesterday, Hanoi fined 30 people sitting and drinking coffee at a cafe and the owner for violating pandemic prevention regulations. The establishment even had someone holding a walkie-talkie outside the premises to alert when inspection teams arrived. Each person was fined 2 million dong.
Two clandestine massage parlors in Đồng Nai were caught red-handed, providing illicit services to customers despite the ban in place to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Vietnam is reassessing the options for reopening air routes to repatriate citizens and resume some commercial flights. In March, it plans to execute 13 flights to bring citizens back home.
The Prime Minister issued a resolution regarding the procurement and utilization of COVID-19 vaccines. This serves as a foundation for localities to devise procurement plans to support their pandemic prevention efforts. Additionally, it provides companies with a framework for future socialized vaccination initiatives.
Today marks the commencement of phase 2 clinical trials for the Nanocovax vaccine in Long An and Hanoi, a concurrent effort aimed at reducing trial duration by 50%. Preliminary assessments indicate its efficacy against the UK variant.
This afternoon, an additional 5 cases have been recorded, with 4 in Hai Duong and 1 involving an individual under quarantine in Dong Thap upon entry. Since the onset of the outbreak, there have been 2,426 confirmed cases.
Global Situation
WHO advises all countries to continue implementing preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining distance regardless of the ongoing vaccination campaigns.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals shared findings from an independent study suggesting that their mixed antibody treatment for covid-19 has shown promising results in reducing hospitalization and mortality rates among patients.
Pfizer has announced the initiation of research on administering a third dose of their distributed vaccine formulation. This is aimed at bolstering immunity against newly discovered variants of the virus.
The CEO of AstraZeneca reassures that the company is maximizing its capacity to deliver the promised doses to EU governments. They prioritize government deliveries over retail sales to private entities.
President Biden celebrates the administration's achievement of administering 50 million vaccine doses within 37 days, a significant step towards the goal of 100 million doses in 100 days. However, he emphasizes that this is just the beginning of the fight against Covid-19. In other news, two lions and a gorilla tested positive for the virus at a zoo in Prague. Initial investigations suggest they may have contracted it from a caretaker who was previously infected.
Prime Minister of Hungary warns citizens that the next two weeks will be the toughest since the beginning of the pandemic due to a surge in cases attributed to the emergence of a new virus strain.
Bulgaria has initiated vaccinations for individuals outside priority groups, becoming one of the first European countries to expand its immunization campaign to other demographics. According to health ministry data, over 15,000 individuals aged 30-40 have received their first dose.
Bulgaria leads Europe in vaccinating non-priority groups
German Chancellor warns of Europe's issue with accepting AstraZeneca vaccine, as data reveals that up to 4/5 of the vaccines sent to these countries remain unused.
The Syrian Health Minister announced receiving vaccine doses from a 'friendly' nation, without specifying. Healthcare workers will start vaccination next week.Algeria reports its first 2 cases infected with the UK variant. They are both healthcare workers based in the capital Algiers.The Japanese government will convene to consider lifting the state of emergency in 5 regions following a significant decrease in new cases in these areas recently.South Korea has initiated its vaccination campaign today. They have opted for the AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate patients and staff at nursing homes nationwide.Cambodia has ordered the expulsion of a Chinese journalist for reporting falsely about Cambodia selling vaccines at inflated prices to its citizens.The Ecuadorian government announced negotiations to purchase 2 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine, with plans for 20 million doses, sufficient to vaccinate 60% of the population above 18. They had previously participated in Pfizer vaccine clinical trials but have yet to receive the vaccine due to various reasons.The highly anticipated rugby match between France and Scotland in the Six Nations tournament has been postponed after a French player tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of cases in the team to 16.AB InBev, the world's largest alcoholic beverage company, has announced that last year's profits have halved as most bars were forced to close due to lockdown orders. However, they are hopeful for a much better year ahead as recent data shows an increase in online purchases rather than pub visits.The biological laboratory at Oxford University has been hacked, raising concerns that sensitive information may be sold on the black market.
Sources: CNN, WHO, suckhoedoisong, SCMP, JHU, Tuoi Tre, Tien Phong
