Bringing nearly 240 Vietnamese citizens back home from Myanmar
On May 21, 2020, Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar and Vietjet Air coordinated with local authorities to bring nearly 240 Vietnamese citizens from Myanmar back home safely. Immediately after landing safely at Da Nang International Airport, the flight participants were medically examined and taken to centralized quarantine facilities in accordance with regulations.
From the departure afternoon, the flight also carried a number of Myanmar citizens back to the country.
36th day without new infections in the community
On May 22, the Ministry of Health announced that no new cases were recorded, with the total number of cases now at 324, of which 266 patients have recovered and 58 are continuing treatment.
Although it has been 36 days without recording any new cases in the community, at the meeting of the National Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention and Control on May 21, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam warned that the epidemic could still enter the country through people entering the country, through border gates, through trails and openings, through flight crews of foreign flights...
Laos allows resumption of domestic transport
On May 21, Laos allowed domestic transport to resume, but required strict implementation of pandemic prevention and control measures, including body temperature checks and seating arrangements to ensure passengers are at least 1 meter apart. Transport companies will have to provide soap and hand sanitizer to customers.
On the same day, Thailand's security agencies unanimously recommended extending the Emergency Decree until the end of June, as the global Covid-19 pandemic situation remains worrying.
Japan lifts state of emergency in 3 more provinces
On May 21, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the lifting of the state of emergency due to the Covid-19 acute respiratory infection in three provinces in the Kansai region including Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo.
Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Abe said the state of emergency in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Hokkaido in the far north could be lifted as early as May 25. The current state of emergency is in effect until May 31.
Israel extends ban on foreigners entering the country
On May 20, the Israel Airports Authority announced an order requiring Israelis returning from abroad to self-isolate for 14 days and extended the complete ban on foreigners entering Israel until at least June 15, instead of May 30 as previously planned. Meanwhile, Israeli airline El Al announced that it would not operate flights to and from Israel until June 20.
The decision is based on the Israeli Ministry of Health's requirement to self-isolate upon arrival in Israel, the entry ban on foreigners and low travel demand.
On the same day, May 20, Jordan's Minister of State for Communications Amjad Adaileh announced that the country will impose a complete lockdown during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, in the context of a sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Jordan in recent days.
State Secretary Adaileh said the lockdown will be imposed to limit large gatherings during the Muslim holiday, which starts from the night of May 21 to May 24.
All 50 states in the US reopen
All 50 states in the US have partially reopened after being closed for two months to implement restrictions to combat the Covid-19 epidemic.
According to the BBC, there are differences between US states in infection rates and the speed of restarting the economy. Many states do not meet federal guidelines for reopening, including ensuring a gradual decline in coronavirus infections and deaths from the Covid-19 epidemic.
While states that were hit hard by the pandemic, such as New York, New Jersey and Washington, are now seeing a sharp decline in cases, most other states are experiencing a flat trend, while some, such as Arizona and North Carolina, are seeing an increase.
Moscow initially eases lockdown measures
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on May 21 signed a decision to initially ease strict lockdown measures in the city where the number of Covid-19 cases accounts for nearly half of the country.
Starting May 21, Moscow employers will be able to issue electronic passes to their employees, but will still have to limit the number of workers in the workplace. Car sharing services will also be restored in Moscow from May 25. From May 27, people traveling in the city will need electronic passes, and wearing masks and gloves will remain mandatory in public places.
Russia prepares to test COVID-19 vaccine on humans
Russia is completing the final steps to prepare for human trials of a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This vaccine was developed by the Vector Institute of Virology and Biotechnology in collaboration with Russia's leading biotechnology group BIOCAD.
According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, preclinical trials will be conducted before June 22. If all goes well, the first phase of clinical trials will take place from June 29, with the participation of 60 volunteers.
Hundreds of COVID-19 cases at meat processing facilities in Europe
A total of 828 people working at meat processing plants in Ireland have been confirmed to have Covid-19, with 328 cases at these facilities last week alone, according to RTE on May 20. The figures have raised concerns that meat processing plants could become new hotbeds of the virus in Ireland due to difficulties in ensuring social distancing.
In France, on May 20, the country's health authorities also recorded more than 100 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection at a slaughterhouse in Cotes d'Amor, western France, after the second round of testing.
Previously, Germany, Spain, Australia, the US and Brazil also identified Covid-19 outbreaks at meat processing plants in these countries. These facilities have difficulty ensuring social distancing because workers work in very close proximity.
New Zealand launches app to trace COVID-19 cases
On May 20, the New Zealand Government launched a smartphone application to track cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. According to the New Zealand Ministry of Health, the application, called NZ COVID Tracer, also allows users to self-report when they have symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested.
New Zealand Health Ministry representative Ashley Bloomfield said one of the country's important public health responses to the Covid-19 pandemic is to find and isolate cases, while maintaining close contact to prevent the risk of spreading the disease.
