Vietnam Airlines offers free tickets for medical workers
From April 9 to April 30, 2020, Vietnam Airlines will provide free air tickets to passengers who are doctors, nurses, and medical experts participating in epidemic prevention and control, and free transportation of goods serving the treatment and prevention of the epidemic on the airline's regular domestic flights.
Vietnam Airlines launches program "Standing side by side with the country to overcome Covid-19"
To promptly support medical staff travel and transport goods for epidemic prevention and control, the airline will also give the highest priority to seat confirmation and airport check-in for passengers and goods under this program to ensure flights are carried out as planned.
Vietnam donates 550,000 masks to Europe
Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung on the afternoon of April 7 symbolically handed over 550,000 antibacterial cloth masks made in Vietnam to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - countries heavily affected by Covid-19, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Deputy Minister Dung, in the current global health crisis, no country can effectively deal with the spread of the epidemic alone. International cooperation and strengthening solidarity are important factors to protect people's health and safety, contributing to minimizing the enormous impacts caused by Covid-19.
Japan declares state of emergency
Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on April 7 declared a state of emergency in the capital Tokyo and six other areas to prevent the spread of the disease.
The state of emergency will affect the lives of about 44% of Japan's population for about a month.
The Japanese government has approved an emergency economic package worth 108.2 trillion yen ($993 billion), equivalent to 20% of Japan's economic output, to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic. In this support package, the Japanese government declared the Covid-19 pandemic as the "biggest crisis" the world economy has faced since World War II.
China officially lifts lockdown on Wuhan
From midnight on April 8 local time, Wuhan city (Hubei province), once the epicenter of the Covid-19 epidemic in China, officially lifted the blockade after 77 days.
Wuhan’s entire airport, railway, waterway, highway and bus network has resumed operations. However, residents are still advised to avoid leaving their residential area, Wuhan city and Hubei province unless necessary.
Thousands of people have flocked to train and highway stations to leave Wuhan since the lockdown was lifted, according to AFP. Authorities had previously estimated that about 55,000 people would leave Wuhan after the lockdown was lifted.
City officials still ask residents to be cautious, warning that the lack of new infections does not mean there is no risk.
South Korea stops visa exemption
South Korea will temporarily suspend visa waiver programs for countries that have imposed entry bans on South Koreans amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on April 8, as the country seeks to stem "imported" cases, which are believed to account for the majority of new infections in the country, Yonhap reported.
Mr. Chung also said the Government will extend the entry restriction on foreigners traveling without necessary and urgent purposes.
Singapore bans gatherings in public and private places
A new law passed by the Singapore Parliament on April 7 will ban all large and small social gatherings not only in public places but also in private spaces such as private homes.
The Act is in effect for six months. Penalties for violators are severe, including a fine of S$10,000 and/or six months' imprisonment for the first offence, which is doubled for repeat offences.
In addition, the law also empowers the government to requisition land and services necessary to strengthen health care and allows the health ministry to close facilities to fight the epidemic.
Thailand continues to close schools until July
The Thai cabinet has just approved the proposal of the Ministry of Education to close schools until early July 2020. According to the Bangkok Post, the semester starting on May 16 will be postponed until July 1. The Ministry of Education will adjust learning methods to suit the curriculum of all levels in the 2020 school year.
Dubai extends trade restrictions
Dubai has extended its closure of commercial activities until April 18 to prevent the spread of the virus, according to the Dubai Department of Economy.
During this period, previously exempted sectors are still allowed to operate normally. The new restrictions will be applied from 8pm on April 4, local time.
As of April 7, the UAE has a total of 2,076 infections and 11 deaths.
North Korea launches SARS-CoV-2 virus testing
According to Reuters, on April 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that North Korea - one of the few countries that has not reported any cases of Covid-19, announced that the country is conducting SARS-CoV-2 virus tests and more than 500 people are being quarantined.
North Korea had previously received equipment for use in PCR diagnostic testing from China in January. According to WHO, North Korea has the ability to test for the virus at its national standard laboratory in the capital Pyongyang.
Cuba gives people PrevengHo-Vir medicine to prevent disease
Cuba's Ministry of Health said on April 7 that the country will use the micronutrient drug PrevengHo-Vir for healthy people in the near future as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 epidemic, according to the Miami Herald.
The National Director of Epidemiology at the Cuban Ministry of Health, Dr. Francisco Duran, said that this prophylactic medicine is a homeopathic product that helps prevent a number of different diseases such as influenza, dengue fever and viral infections such as Covid-19.
US CDC removes guidance on using malaria drugs to treat COVID-19
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has removed a guide for doctors on how to prescribe hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, recommended by President Donald Trump for treating Covid-19, from its website.
Reuters news agency reported that this move by the CDC came three days after the CDC announced dosage information related to the two anti-malarial drugs, based on the experience of other countries in treating Covid-19 rather than scientific evidence.
Reuters also reported that the CDC issued initial guidance on the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine after Trump pressured health officials and federal health agencies to use the two drugs to treat the coronavirus. The CDC has not yet responded to questions from the news agency about removing the initial guidance.
Italy and the US test blood for people with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2
On April 6, officials in the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, which is also the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, began blood tests on medical workers, an estimated 2,000-3,000 people. Once the process is complete, testing will be expanded to include nursing home staff and residents and public workers.
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia said the goal of the campaign is to find individuals who are "immune" to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, thereby granting them permission to return to work.
The move comes as the number of Covid-19 deaths and infections in Italy has shown signs of "stabilization" and the government is starting to consider phase 2 of the health crisis, when businesses and industries that had to close due to the lockdown can reopen.
Besides Italy, the US has also started a blood testing campaign to find people who have immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Death toll in US and UK hits record high
Statistics from Johns Hopkins University on April 7 showed that the US has at least 387,547 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 12,722 people have died from the virus.
At least 19,351 new cases and 1,939 additional deaths were confirmed on April 7. The new deaths were the highest single-day toll since the outbreak began in the US.
In the UK, the country's Ministry of Health recorded a record number of deaths in 24 hours due to the corona virus with 786 cases. As of now, the total number of deaths due to the corona virus in the UK is up to 6,159 people, the total number of infections is 55,242 cases.
The new figures come as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson battles coronavirus in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a London hospital. While Johnson is being treated, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will decide whether to lift the country's lockdown.
In a related development, British Home Secretary Michael Gove has self-isolated after a family member showed symptoms of Covid-19. Mr. Gove is one of the most senior members of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's cabinet still working.
The death toll in France exceeds 10,000
As of the evening of April 7 (local time), France has recorded 10,328 deaths, including 7,091 deaths in hospitals (an increase of 607 in 24 hours) and 3,237 deaths in nursing homes (an increase of 802). In the past 24 hours, France has recorded 1,417 more deaths from Covid-19.
Thus, France has become the 4th country in the world with the number of deaths exceeding 10,000 people, after Italy, Spain and the US.
French health officials say 82% of deaths were among people over 70 years old.
On the same day, Russia recorded the first increase in the number of new infections by more than 1,000 cases in a day. With 1,154 new cases, the total number of infections here has reached 7,497, while the number of deaths increased by 11 to 58 cases.
Some Nordic countries have begun to relax anti-epidemic regulations.
Several Nordic countries have announced they will begin easing some of the restrictions imposed to combat the spread of the disease, after recording low infection rates.
Accordingly, the Danish government plans to reopen nurseries and primary schools from April 15, as the first step to gradually loosen the three-week lockdown.
Denmark is one of the first European countries to announce the closure of schools, shops... as well as closing its borders to all foreigners.
On April 7, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg also announced a step-by-step plan and schedule for reopening kindergartens and schools in April. Accordingly, kindergartens will be reopened from April 20-27. However, Norwegians must continue to work from home and maintain disinfection measures "for a long time".
In contrast, in Sweden, the government plans to introduce a bill that would give the government additional emergency powers if necessary, such as closing transport hubs and restaurants, to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Sweden's anti-epidemic measures are different from most European countries, relying mainly on voluntary measures and public awareness.
EU proposes 15 billion euros to help poor countries fight COVID-19
The European Union (EU) on April 7 proposed 15 billion euros (16.4 billion USD) to help poor countries around the world fight the Covid-19 pandemic that is affecting all aspects of life.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the money would help countries with poor health care systems partly overcome the impacts caused by the pandemic as well as long-term economic recovery.
