More than 340 Vietnamese citizens returned home from Japan
On May 25, Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and Vietnam Airlines coordinated with local authorities to bring more than 340 Vietnamese citizens from Japan back home safely.
These are citizens in especially difficult circumstances and wishing to return home, including children under 18 years old, the elderly, the sick and those with underlying diseases, pregnant women, workers with expired visas... From the departure flight, Vietnam Airlines also combined to transport a shipment of medical masks donated by the Vietnamese Government to the Government and people of Japan.
Vietnam records 1 more COVID-19 case returning from France, 8 cases announced cured
On the afternoon of May 25, the Ministry of Health announced the discovery of one more case of Covid-19 returning from France, who was quarantined immediately upon entry, with no risk of spreading to the community. It is known that patient 326 is a 20-year-old female student studying in France, who is being quarantined and treated at the Cu Chi Field Hospital.
As of the morning of May 26, the Treatment Subcommittee - National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control announced that 8 more Covid-19 patients were declared cured (3 at the Central Tropical Diseases Hospital, 4 at Bac Lieu General Hospital and 1 at Quang Ninh Field Hospital No. 2). Notably, patient No. 19 was discharged from the hospital after 7 negative tests. The above cases will continue to be isolated and monitored for the next 14 days. Thus, to date, in Vietnam, there are 272 cases of Covid-19 that have recovered.
New infections surge in Bangladesh and Malaysia
On May 25, the Bangladesh Ministry of Health announced that the number of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the past 24 hours in the country was 1,975, the highest number of new cases since March 8, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh to 35,585. In addition, Bangladesh also recorded 21 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths due to Covid-19 in the country to 501 cases.
On the same day, the number of new Covid-19 infections in Malaysia increased nearly 3 times compared to the previous day and was the highest level in the past 3 weeks. The Malaysian Ministry of Health recorded 172 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is also the first time in 21 days that the number of Covid-19 infections in Malaysia has returned to 3 digits. Of the new infections on May 25, only 5 cases were imported from abroad, 167 cases were domestically infected, including 159 cases that were not Malaysian citizens. Notably, of these 159 foreign infections, 112 cases were detected in immigration detention centers.
India records nearly 7,000 new infections in a day
On May 25, India recorded a record number of Covid-19 cases in a single day, putting the country in the Top 10 countries most severely affected by the epidemic.
Specifically, India recorded 6,977 new cases - the highest number of new infections in a day since the outbreak in the country, bringing the total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in India to 138,845 cases. Of which, the number of deaths is more than 4,000. The number of infections began to increase faster when many transportation activities resumed in India.
Japan announces lifting of nationwide state of emergency
On May 25, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the lifting of the state of emergency due to the Covid-19 epidemic in the remaining 5 provinces and cities nationwide. Specifically, the state of emergency was lifted in the capital Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama and Hokkaido provinces. With this new announcement, the government has allowed citizens to travel freely and businesses to resume operations across the country.
South Korea announces new regulations for foreigners re-entering the country
From June 1, foreigners residing in Korea must present a re-entry permit and a health certificate when re-entering the country. This is a new regulation to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from entering the country from abroad.
Specifically, before leaving the country, foreigners wishing to return to Korea must apply for a re-entry permit at immigration offices nationwide. In addition to this document, entrants must also present a health certificate from a competent health authority, including the time, person who performed the test, and the results of the Covid-19 test, issued two days before entry.
South Korea adopts QR code scanning system to increase COVID-19 prevention
Due to many opinions that the work of recording the list of people entering and leaving entertainment venues is not guaranteed to be accurate, local authorities in Korea plan to apply an electronic system of scanning QR codes.
Specifically, the authorities in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Incheon City, and Daegu City have banned people from gathering at bars and karaoke rooms and are preparing to use an electronic QR code scanning system on phones to keep a list of people entering and leaving places at high risk of Covid-19. The disease prevention agency said it will only collect the minimum personal information necessary for epidemiological investigations and will encrypt and automatically delete this information after four weeks.
Iran allows prayers at some major mosques
After more than two months of closure due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Iran on May 25 resumed operations at a number of major Shiite Muslim shrines across the country. These shrines are allowed to open from one hour after dawn until one hour before sunset.
The management boards of these temples are required to ensure regulations on social distancing and epidemic hygiene, believers must wear masks, have their body temperature checked and bring personal items such as rugs, scriptures...
Europe slowly returns to normal life
On May 25, Denmark eased border controls with other countries in northwestern Europe and Germany, allowing couples to meet again if they can prove they have been in a relationship for at least six months through private messages, photos or personal information.
In Belgium, people have entered the next phase of the easing of social distancing measures. Specifically, students of all levels have returned to school and wearing masks is no longer mandatory for children under 12. In addition, the government has also allowed prison visits to resume under strict conditions such as each person is only allowed to visit one prisoner and the frequency is once a week. Brussels Airlines also announced that it will resume commercial flights next month on a smaller scale after a 3-month hiatus due to the pandemic.
In Iceland, the government has also eased its national Covid-19 alert level, allowing gatherings of up to 200 people. Gyms can reopen but only at 50% capacity, while bars and restaurants can serve customers until 11pm daily. The government has also allowed hairdressers, museums and schools to reopen.
Brazil has more COVID-19 deaths in one day than the US for the first time
On May 25, the Brazilian Ministry of Health said that the number of Covid-19 deaths in one day in this South American country surpassed the US for the first time. Brazil recorded the highest number of deaths ever in the past 24 hours - 807 deaths from Covid-19, while the number in the US was only 620.
Brazil is currently the second most affected country by the Covid-19 pandemic after the United States. The total number of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 virus in this South American country is now 374,898.
US detects COVID-19 outbreaks at a series of meatpacking plants
US authorities have just discovered an outbreak of acute respiratory infection Covid-19 at 9 production facilities in Vernon city, Southern California. The Los Angeles County Department of Health, California confirmed: Of the 9 facilities above, 5 are meatpacking plants and the largest outbreak is the Farmer John factory - where 153 out of 1,837 workers here tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The facility owner has requested that all workers be tested for the virus, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is assisting the City of Vernon in implementing response measures, containment measures, and implementing quarantine and social distancing measures.
WHO suspends trial of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 treatment
The World Health Organization (WHO) has “temporarily” suspended clinical trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for Covid-19 in a number of countries, a decision seen as a precautionary measure.
Speaking at an online press conference on May 25, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the decision was made after the Lancet medical journal published a study showing that the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients could increase the risk of death.
