The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a working session on Friday with relevant ministries, agencies and a company that sent 226 Vietnamese workers to Uzbekistan to discuss measures to support and bring the stranded laborers home as soon as possible, the official VGP News reported.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia received a letter by representatives of 226 Vietnamese employees who are working for China Petroleum Jili Chemical Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd (JCC) in Karshi city, Uzbekistan. 

In the letter, the workers said they are facing difficulties in daily activities, working and prevention and control of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and called for help from the embassy to soon return home. 

After learning about the information, the Consular Department under the foreign ministry coordinated with the embassy and the company that sent the workers to Uzbekistan to clarify the case.

In related news, the government-run news site reported on Friday Vietnam Airlines is scheduled to send an aircraft to evacuate 219 Vietnamese guest workers, including 120 who are positive with COVID-19, from Equatorial Guinea on July 29.

They are working at Sendje hydropower plant in Equatorial Guinea under labor contracts between Duglas Alliance Ltd of the UK and three Vietnamese companies — Tan Dai Loi, CMVIETNAM and LILAMA 10.

The Hanoi-based National Hospital for Tropical Diseases has made adequate preparations and is ready to receive the patients, the infirmary's director Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach was quoted by VGP News as saying.

Two doctors and two orderlies of the hospital will be on the flight along with two ventilators and other necessary equipment to protect the workers’ health during the journey. 

According to the Ministry of Health, doctors will keep a close watch on 46 out of the 120 COVID-19 positive workers who suffer underlying illnesses such as stomach ulcers, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and bronchitis. 

Among the 120 infected, three had recovered while the rest were still positive with the coronavirus as of Friday, according to the Ministry of Health.

Since April 10, 62 flights have been arranged to bring home 15,263 Vietnamese citizens from foreign countries and territories, according to VGP News.

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