Vietnam’s Ministry of Health documented six imported coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including one Japanese expert.
Five of the six patients are Vietnamese returnees from other countries who were quaratined upon arrival, the health ministry said in a report.
Three of them touched down at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi from Poland on board flight CHVG9883 on December 18.
They were sent to quarantine upon entry as per regulations.
Their COVID-19 tests returned positive on Monday. The three are being isolated for treatment in Hanoi.
The remaining two Vietnamese patients landed at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province aboard flight VN5036 from Germany on December 18.
They were quarantined in Hung Yen Province upon landing.
The two tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday and are being treated in Hanoi.
The Japanese expert is 50 years old. He arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City from Japan on flight NH891 on Sunday.
He was sent to quarantine in Binh Duong Province on entry and tested for COVID-19 there.
His test result came back positive on Monday. The Japanese patient is in treatment in Binh Duong.
Vietnam has logged 1,420 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday night, with 1,281 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths.
The country allows entry to skilled workers, experts, diplomats, and Vietnamese repatriates although it still closes the border to international arrivals to stall coronavirus spread.
Another 17 volunteers were injected with a Vietnamese-made vaccine on Tuesday after three had given the shot on December 17.
Forty others will join the first phase of the clinical trial of the Nanocovax jab in the comming days.
The second phase, aimed at assessing the immunogenicity of Nanocovax, is expected to take place in April 2021 with at least 400 volunteers from 12 to 75 years old.
The final phase will begin in August and require at least 1,500 volunteers from 12 to 75 years old.
Should tests go as planned, the vaccine will be manufactured and made available for local residents in late 2021 or early 2022.
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