Russia reports over 10,000 new infections today; nCovi spreads rapidly in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Vietnam reports 0 new cases, marking 21 days without community transmission.

At 6:00 AM on May 7th, information from the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control indicated that Vietnam had no new cases in the past 12 hours, and no community transmission cases for the past 21 days. The total number of infections remains at 271, of which 131 were imported cases who were immediately quarantined upon entry. 232 cases have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, with only 39 cases currently under treatment.

Based on the current situation where the Covid-19 pandemic is basically under control and the risk of community transmission has decreased (Vietnam has had no new community infections for 21 days), the Ministry of Transport has just issued a document lifting the regulations on social distancing for passengers on passenger transport vehicles (buses, taxis, passenger cars, trains, airplanes, ships, etc.) from 0:00 today (May 7).

However, the Ministry requires continued strict implementation of COVID-19 prevention measures such as: wearing masks in public areas (train stations, ports, bus stations, etc.) and on passenger transport vehicles throughout the journey; completing health declarations; limiting interaction and eating on passenger transport vehicles, etc.

VABIOTECH has successfully developed a candidate vaccine for COVID-19.

The Vaccine and Biological Products Company No. 1 (VABIOTECH - Ministry of Health) - the unit developing the Covid-19 vaccine - announced that as of May 6th, it has been exactly 10 days since the experimental vaccine was injected into mice. The experimental mice are currently healthy and are being continuously monitored to assess their ability to produce antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

WHO: A positive test result after recovery does not mean reinfection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that patients who have recovered from Covid-19 but test positive for the coronavirus are doing so because their lungs are shedding dead cells, not because they have been reinfected. This statement comes after South Korea recently reported 300 cases of patients testing positive again for SARS-CoV-2, raising concerns that recovered patients could be reinfected.

"Currently, based on the most recent data, we know that these patients appear to be expelling what remains in their lungs as part of the recovery phase," AFP quoted a WHO spokesperson as saying.

According to the WHO, further research is needed on cases of re-positive Covid-19 test results to determine whether they can transmit the novel coronavirus to others.

Russia has reported over 10,000 new cases for the fourth consecutive day.

The Russian Federation's Covid-19 Task Force reported that approximately 40% of new patients showed no clinical symptoms. In the past 24 hours, Russia also recorded 86 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,537.

On May 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the country should not rush to lift restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, warning that any hasty action in lifting preventative measures could jeopardize Moscow's efforts to date. President Putin stated that mayors would be responsible for deciding how to proceed in the regions under their jurisdiction.

Also on May 6th, Russian Culture Ministry spokesperson Anna Usacheva announced that Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Minister Lyubimova's illness was mild and did not require hospitalization. She is the third member of the Russian Cabinet to contract the virus, following Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the Minister of Construction and Housing, Vladimir Yakushev.

The three Baltic states have announced they are reopening their borders.

Leaders of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have announced they will open their borders to allow citizens to travel. However, those arriving from other countries in the three Baltic states will have to self-isolate for 14 days. This marks the first region in the European Union (EU) to open its borders for people to travel freely.

The three Baltic states have been members of the EU since 2004 and part of the Schengen free movement area since 2007. Since the outbreak, Lithuania has recorded 48 deaths, while Latvia and Estonia have had 17 and 55 deaths respectively. The number of new Covid-19 cases in these three countries has been steadily decreasing recently.

Poland postpones presidential election to minimize SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The ruling coalition parties in Poland agreed on May 6 to postpone the presidential election scheduled for May 10. The decision was made after the parties failed to reach an agreement on holding the election by mail to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

European countries continue to ease lockdown restrictions.

As of 6:00 AM on May 7th, the total number of coronavirus infections and deaths in Germany were 168,162 and 7,275 respectively. German Chancellor Angela Merkel assessed that the country had achieved its goals of slowing the spread of the new coronavirus and not overwhelming the healthcare system. The German government and states have decided to allow many activities to resume, but under controlled conditions. All shops are allowed to reopen but must strictly adhere to hygiene requirements and control customer traffic. States will decide on the gradual reopening of restaurants and eateries between May 9th and 22nd. Schools are gradually bringing students back while ensuring compliance with hygiene measures and maintaining social distancing rules.

The Italian Civil Protection Agency reported on May 6th that the country recorded an additional 1,444 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country to 214,457. The number of deaths increased to 29,684, up 369, and the number of recoveries reached 93,245, up 8,014.

Meanwhile, France has recorded 25,809 deaths from Covid-19, an increase of 278 in 24 hours. The number of new cases also surged by 4,183, the highest since mid-April 2020. France is preparing to lift its lockdown on May 11th but says the plan will depend on whether the number of new infections falls below 3,000 per day.

Italy develops rapid SARS-CoV-2 test kit.

The Lombardy regional health authority and the University of Insubria in northern Italy have collaborated to develop a rapid SARS-CoV-2 virus test kit using saliva (Trs), which takes only 3-6 minutes to produce results.

The new test kit can diagnose using a mechanism similar to a pregnancy test. Saliva is collected on the test kit, processed with a special reagent, and the result is shown: one line for negative, two lines for positive.

The agency asserted that the test kit provides highly accurate results and can also diagnose asymptomatic individuals. Mass production of the kit is expected soon.

The number of deaths in Spain has risen again.

The Spanish Ministry of Health announced on May 6th that the number of daily deaths from Covid-19 in the country had risen again. Specifically, in the past 24 hours, Spain recorded 244 deaths, an increase from the less than 200 deaths recorded each day for the previous three days. As of 6:00 AM on May 7th, Spain had recorded a total of 253,682 cases, including 25,857 deaths.

On May 6th, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez approved a plan to extend the state of emergency for another two weeks. The state of emergency, which was set to expire on May 9th, allows the government to control people's movement in order to curb the spread of Covid-19. Prime Minister Sanchez asserted that lifting the state of emergency would be an unforgivable mistake and that thanks to the emergency decree, the government has provided billions of dollars in support to businesses and individuals affected by lockdown measures.

The Washington area has become a new hotspot in the US.

Despite more than a month of social distancing measures, the Washington area has become a new hotspot for COVID-19 in the US, with Latino and African Americans being among the hardest hit. According to statistics, Washington and neighboring states such as Maryland and Virginia have recorded over 50,000 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and approximately 2,300 deaths.

Earlier this month, in early April, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan predicted that the metropolitan area would be the next hotspot for the pandemic, about two weeks after New York. Despite the closure of all schools and non-essential businesses, along with lockdown measures imposed since the end of March, the number of new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths continues to rise in the region.

In New York, starting May 6th, the city's subway system, which has operated 24/7 for the past 115 years, will cease nighttime operations from 1:00 AM on May 1st for disinfection and to ensure the safety of users. In a press conference updating the situation, Governor Andrew Cuomo also announced that former Google CEO Eric Schmidt will head a subcommittee planning the reopening of activities in New York after the pandemic.

The United States remains the country with the highest number of deaths in the world, with over 74,121 cases.

The US is increasing its support for countries fighting the pandemic.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed that Washington will provide an additional $128 million in global humanitarian and health support to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, this money will support the prevention, detection, and control of the novel coronavirus and help prevent the spread of Covid-19 among vulnerable refugees and migrants through humanitarian assistance. With this new funding, the total amount committed by the U.S. to support global health, humanitarian, and economic assistance to more than 120 countries has reached $900 million.

On the same day, the Pentagon announced it had signed a $126 million contract with manufacturer 3M to boost production of 26 million N95 masks per month, starting in October.

The pandemic continues to evolve in a complex manner in Latin America.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health confirmed on the morning of May 7th (Vietnam time) that the country had recorded 10,503 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours and over 615 deaths. The South American nation now has a total of 125,218 cases and 8,356 deaths. Brazilian health officials said the number of cases could rise further as many test results have yet to be entered into the database. They also warned that lockdown measures may be tightened further.

The Mexican Ministry of Health announced that the number of Covid-19 cases had increased by 1,120, bringing the total number of cases to 26,025, including 2,507 deaths. Given the increasingly complex situation and the approaching peak of the pandemic, the Mexican government has implemented its highest-level response plan (for dealing with crises, natural disasters, and pandemics), including support from the armed forces at all levels.

In Central America, the number of infections and deaths in Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador has reached 10,637, including 324 deaths.

In Peru, the second hardest-hit country in the region after Brazil, President Martin Vizcarra confirmed that the number of infections had reached 54,817. Despite being one of the first Latin American countries to lock down to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, Peru has seen its Covid-19 cases double in just 10 days.

Meanwhile, Colombia reported over 8,600 cases of Covid-19, including 378 deaths. On May 5th, President Ivan Duque announced an extension of the mandatory lockdown for another two weeks, until May 25th. However, some sectors, including industry and certain retail businesses such as car dealerships and furniture stores, may begin reopening. Colombia imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 24th and has since extended restrictions twice.

Many African countries are reporting a surge in cases.

With the exception of Egypt and South Africa, which have the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Africa, many other countries in the region such as Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, etc., are also recording a significant increase in new infections in recent days.

Algeria reported 159 new cases and 6 deaths, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country to 4,997 and the death toll to 476. Meanwhile, in Morocco, the Ministry of Health reported a total of 5,408 Covid-19 cases and 183 deaths, an increase of 189 cases and 2 deaths in the past 24 hours.

To date, most African countries have imposed the highest level of preventative measures, including lockdowns, curfews, and health protocols.

However, some countries like Algeria and Tunisia have begun to ease some restrictions to stimulate economic growth while simultaneously combating Covid-19, especially during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Nevertheless, this premature easing of measures also carries the risk of potentially causing outbreaks that are difficult to control in these countries.

The COVID-19 situation in the Middle East continues to be alarming.

On May 6th, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced that the death toll from COVID-19 in the country had reached 3,584, including 64 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Turkey is now 131,744, with 2,253 new cases detected.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an additional 546 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were detected, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 15,738. According to UAE authorities, the country has so far confirmed 157 deaths due to COVID-19, while 206 patients have fully recovered. Currently, the total number of people who have recovered and been discharged from hospitals is 3,359.

Also on May 6th, Yemeni health officials confirmed four new cases, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Arab nation to 25. There have now been five deaths due to COVID-19 in Yemen, and only one patient has recovered so far. Health experts in the region have expressed concern that Yemen's healthcare system is not adequately equipped to cope with this dangerous pandemic.

Meanwhile, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Syria is now 45, with 3 deaths and 27 recoveries. The Syrian government imposed a nationwide curfew on March 25 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Iraq also reported 49 new cases, bringing the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country to 2,480.

Chinese students return to school.

On May 6th, students in Wuhan, Hubei province – the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in China – returned to school. However, only final-year students were allowed to return to school to continue their studies and prepare for upcoming final exams and university entrance exams. Elementary and middle school students in Wuhan remained out of school.

In other parts of China, many schools reopened in April. China's major cities are gradually returning to normal after imposing strict travel restrictions and shutting down much of the economy to control the Covid-19 outbreak.

India extends lockdown order.

The Telangana state government (India) extended the lockdown until May 29 on May 6 to curb the spread of Covid-19. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced the decision after a seven-hour meeting of the leadership.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered the closure of liquor stores and other non-essential businesses to limit large gatherings at these locations. Only grocery stores and pharmacies are permitted to operate. Mumbai currently has 9,758 COVID-19 patients, with 387 deaths. In the past 24 hours, the city recorded 635 new cases.

Japan eases restrictions.

Starting May 7th, businesses in 34 prefectures and cities in Japan not under special alert may have their operating hours lifted if they meet COVID-19 prevention requirements. Entertainment venues such as cinemas, exhibition halls, and theaters must ensure adequate seating space and a 2-meter distance between individuals. Events with a maximum of 50 people are permitted; grocery stores, supermarkets, and barbershops must maintain social distancing; and restaurants should avoid using enclosed spaces and crowded areas.

The disease is spreading rapidly in Southeast Asia.

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health announced that as of the afternoon of May 6th, the country had recorded an additional 788 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, bringing the total number of people infected with this new virus to 20,198, the highest in Southeast Asia. Among the new cases were 11 Singaporeans, while migrant workers living in dormitories for foreign workers accounted for the majority of the remaining cases. The number of community transmissions and cases with unknown sources has been steadily decreasing. Currently, Singapore has 1,513 patients who have recovered and been discharged from hospital, and 18 deaths. Since the first SARS-CoV-2 infection on January 23rd, it took approximately 13 weeks for Singapore to record over 10,000 cases on April 22nd. However, in just the past two weeks, the number of patients in the country has doubled.

In the Philippines, the total number of Covid-19 infections has surpassed 10,000. In an announcement on May 6th, the Ministry of Health reported 320 new cases, bringing the total to 10,004. The ministry also announced 21 deaths, raising the total death toll to 658.

Meanwhile, Malaysia announced 45 new cases of Covid-19 on May 6, bringing the total number of infections to 6,428. The death toll in the country currently stands at 107.

In Indonesia, the number of infections on May 6th was 367, with 23 deaths. This brings the total number of COVID-19 patients in the country to 12,438, of which 895 have died.

The Cambodian Ministry of Health announced on the morning of May 6th that Cambodia has not detected any new Covid-19 cases for 24 consecutive days. Of the total 122 Covid-19 patients in Cambodia, 120 have recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

Ha Le