540 Vietnamese citizens return home from the US and Europe
On May 15 and 16, more than 340 Vietnamese citizens were brought back to Vietnam on a flight from Washington DC (USA); nearly 200 Vietnamese citizens from several European countries were also brought back safely. Immediately after arriving at Noi Bai International Airport, all passengers and crew were medically monitored and quarantined in accordance with regulations.
In the past 12 hours (since 6am on May 16), our country has had 4 more positive cases of SARS-CoV-2. All of these positive cases are people returning from abroad, quarantined after entering the country and have no possibility of spreading to the community. To date, Vietnam has recorded 318 cases of Covid-19.
Positive signs from Southeast Asia
On May 16, Thailand recorded no new cases or deaths from the epidemic, as the country began to reopen businesses and ease restrictions.
On the same day, Thailand decided to remove South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Macau from the list of areas affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, as the epidemic situation has been well controlled in these areas.
Currently, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia are still on the list of epidemic areas despite meeting some criteria to be included.
To date, Thailand has recorded a total of 3,025 cases and 56 deaths due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Also on May 16, the Cambodian Ministry of Health announced that the country's last patient had recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Although there are no more Covid-19 cases, the Cambodian Ministry of Health still recommends that people continue to be cautious. Cambodia has recorded a total of 122 cases of the virus and no deaths.
Meanwhile, other countries in the Southeast Asian region such as Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia continue to record new infections.
The last time Cambodia recorded a new infection was on April 12.
Since May 16, the Philippines has begun easing the lockdown in the capital Manila, the epicenter of the country's outbreak, and many other major cities have also gradually restarted economic activities after a period of stagnation due to quarantine measures.
The number of cases in India surpasses China
On May 16, the Indian government announced that the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country is now at 85,940, surpassing for the first time the number of cases in China (82,941 cases), where the epidemic originated.
Since May 7, the world’s second most populous country has been recording an average of more than 3,000 new cases a day. While the strict nationwide lockdown, which was imposed on March 25, continues, the Indian government is also gradually allowing economic activities to resume. As a result, new cases are expected to continue to rise.
US resumes partial funding for WHO
Fox News reported late on May 15 that a draft letter sent to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said: The Trump administration agreed to partially re-fund the WHO.
"Despite its shortcomings, I believe the WHO still has great potential and want to see it live up to this potential, especially in the context of the current global crisis," said a representative of Donald Trump.
Previously, on April 14, Mr. Trump announced that the US would temporarily suspend funding to the WHO to "conduct a review of the WHO's role in mismanaging and covering up the severity of the Covid-19 epidemic."
Number of nCoV infections in the US exceeds 1.5 million
The US recorded more than 1,500 more deaths from nCoV in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 88,424, out of nearly 1,505,250 infections. The US remains the world's largest epidemic area and also the place with the highest number of deaths.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed its latest Covid-19 prediction models, which said the number of deaths in the country will exceed 100,000 by June 1.
New York, the state hardest hit by Covid-19 in the US, said the majority of new infections were people leaving home to buy necessities, exercise or socialize, rather than workers in important jobs as previously thought.
Just one week after implementing Phase 1 of the reopening plan, North Carolina also continuously recorded a high number of new nCoV infections.
Donald Trump announces "warp speed" to develop COVID-19 vaccine
US President Donald Trump on May 15 announced details of a "warp-speed operation" to successfully develop a Covid-19 vaccine by the end of this year, even as experts warned that such a breakthrough could take more than 18 months.
"This is a massive scientific, industrial and logistical endeavor unlike anything our country has seen since the Manhattan Project," Mr. Trump emphasized.
Donald Trump speaks at the White House about Operation Warp Speed
President Trump also said that the government will invest in all potential vaccine candidates, of which there are currently 14 on the list. In parallel, the US military will also work with other countries to develop a regulatory model and mobilize distribution resources as soon as a vaccine is available.
Spanish Prime Minister wants to extend state of emergency
"The government will ask the National Assembly to approve the extension of the state of emergency. This will be the last phase of the emergency and will continue until the return to normality. Therefore, it will last about a month instead of 15 days," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on television on May 16.
Spain's nationwide lockdown has been extended four times.
Spain has entered the first phase of its plan to ease the lockdown and return to normality, which is expected to be completed by the end of June. If approved by Parliament, Spain's national state of emergency will last until the end of June instead of May 24 as it is currently.
Brazilian health minister resigns over disagreements over how to fight the epidemic
On May 15, Brazilian Health Minister Nelson Teich resigned because he disagreed with President Jair Bolsonaro on how to fight the Covid-19 epidemic.
According to AFP, Mr. Teich and President Bolsonaro are said to disagree on the use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients. President Bolsonaro praised the drug as a promising treatment despite many studies questioning its effectiveness and warnings about its side effects.
Nelson Teich (left) has been Brazil's Health Minister for less than a month.
Teich's predecessor, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, also resigned on April 16 after clashing with President Bolsonaro over how to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The resignation of the second Health Minister in less than a month has sparked protests against the government in Rio de Janeiro.
Italy passes decree to reopen from May 18
After more than 2 months of implementing the country's lockdown order, on May 16, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that bars, restaurants, hair salons, beauty salons, team sports activities, museums... will reopen from May 18.
Accordingly, from May 18, Italians can move freely within the region without having to self-confirm the reason for their movement, but must ensure a safe distance of 1 meter. Those who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 or have similar symptoms are not allowed to go out.
Gyms and swimming pools will reopen from May 25 and cinemas from June 15. Free movement between regions and European citizens will begin on June 3.
New infections decrease, deaths increase in Russia
Russia on May 16 recorded 9,200 new cases of the virus, bringing the total number of infected people to 272,043. This is the lowest number of new infections in a day since May 2. However, the number of deaths in Russia increased by 119 to 2,537. This is also the highest number of deaths in a day ever.
Who investigates mysterious inflammatory syndrome in children
WHO says it is investigating a potential link between the Covid-19 pandemic and a rare inflammatory syndrome that has sickened and even killed children in Europe and the US. Speaking at an online press conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said preliminary reports suggest that a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children may be linked to Covid-19.
So far, European countries and the US have recorded hundreds of cases of such rare pediatric diseases. In the latest development, France announced that a 9-year-old boy who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus has died due to the new syndrome. Previously, a child died in the UK.
The syndrome has affected 230 children in Europe.
Covid-19 has hit the elderly and those with chronic illnesses hardest, but reports of the syndrome in children have raised concerns that it may affect younger people more than initially thought.
