Front receives over US$5.2 million in support of COVID-19 fight in single day

Man hosted a ceremony in Hanoi on Tuesday to receive donation from relevant agencies, businesses and benefactors in support of Vietnam's COVID-19 response.

At the ceremony, the VFF received nearly VND114 billion in financial support as well as other medical supplies. The largest contributors included VinGroup, which donated VND100 billion for the purchase of medical equipment and supplies for COVID-19 containment efforts; Toyota Vietnam, with VND10 billion in donations; and Vietnam Social Security, with VND2 billion.

According to Man, on Tuesday alone, the amount of direct and registered financial support sent to the VFF reached VND125 billion.

Speaking at the ceremony, Man emphasised that, more than ever, solidarity should be promoted to arouse the consensus and determination from the community to join hands with the Party and the Government against the pandemic.

To overcome this challenge, it is necessary to have the joint efforts and support of relevant agencies, organisations, businesses and donors at home and abroad in aiding the government and the Ministry of Health (MoH) with disease prevention, he added.

Also, on Tuesday, organisations and individuals in Ha Tinh Province donated over VND18.3 billion, while a number of businesses and units in Ha Nam Province supported 70,000 medical masks, 3,000 medical protective suits and an X-ray system worth VND1 billion to Ha Nam General Hospital.

A day earlier, the VFF held a meeting with relevant ministries, departments and agencies on the allocation of financial assistance and goods sent to the front to support the COVID-19 fight. VFF and the competent authorities agreed to promptly allocate this source to establishments directly conducting medical examination and treatment, as well as isolation facilities.

* On Mar 24, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour sent a written request to its local members and affiliated unit, urging for the continuance of calling on all officials, union members and employees to uphold the solidarity to respond to the text messaging drive "All people support the prevention and control of COVID-19", which has been launched jointly by the Ministry Information and Communications, the MoH, VFF Central Committee and the Vietnam Red Cross Society, via Call Centre 1407.

* On Tuesday afternoon, at an online meeting discussing the prevention and control of the epidemic, Politburo member and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan said that the next 15 days are an important period for the city 's epidemic prevention and control, so the work needs to be carried out regularly with a focus on the early forecast of the disease's situation, as well as early detection of people at risk of infection for timely and full isolation.

* The same day, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Minister of Health, had a working session on the treatment of COVID-19 patients at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases Base 2 in Hanoi, where 46 confirmed cases are receiving treatment, in addition to 348 suspected cases under monitoring.

Son on behalf of the MoH leaders presented VND5 billion donated from a unit to the hospital. He also visited and encouraged medical staff infected with COVID-19 undergoing treatment there.

On Tuesday evening, the ministry confirmed 11 more cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total in Vietnam to 134.

* Hanoi authorities have decided to spend from the local budget to provide financial support to those joining activities against the epidemic, as well as for people subject to medical isolation in concentrated camps. In which, Vietnamese and foreigners in such camps receive food support worth VND100,000/day per person. Meanwhile, persons involved in the prevention of the epidemic shall be provided with an allowance of VND200,000 per day, plus food support of VND100,000 a day. Collaborators and volunteers who directly participate in epidemic fighting are entitled to support worth VND130,000 per day.

* On Tuesday afternoon, Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee held a conference with the local businesses to discuss solutions to remove difficulties for the local business community due to COVID-19. They agreed to further improve the investment and business environment, promote disbursement of public investment sources, and enhance the communications on prevention and control of the disease.

* Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the provinces of Bac Giang, Hai Duong and An Giang, have ordered the closure of all entertainment areas, restaurants and relic sites until the end of March 31 to cope with the COVID-19 epidemic.

(Source: NDO)