A medical worker takes samples for testing. — VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

HÀ NỘI — Two more COVID-19 patients in Việt Nam who previously were given the all-clear have tested positive again, the Treatment Subcommittee of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control reported on Wednesday evening.

The newest relapse cases bring the total number of people testing positive after previously given the all-clear stands at 11.

Meanwhile no new cases were reported on Wednesday evening, keeping the nation’s COVID-19 tally at 270 since Friday evening.

The country has gone 13 days straight with no community transmissions as of 6pm on April 29, the committee said.

Patient No 130 was declared recovered on March 30 but still monitored at the National Hospital of Tropic Diseases. His tests were positive again on April 4, April 19 and from 25-26.

After being declared to have recovered on April 11, Patient No 50 had two tests come back positive on April 24 on 27.

The two patients are receiving treatment at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hà Nội.

A total of 219 patients have recovered while 51 are being treated at nine medical facilities, of whom 10 have tested negative once and four negative twice.

As many as 42,057 are under quarantine with 323 in hospitals, 6,643 at other facilities and 35,091 at home and accommodations.

Prevention measures

Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam urged agencies to strengthen measures against the COVID-19 pandemic during the Reunification Day and May Day holidays.

“It’s time for public security, defence and healthcare sectors to review their ongoing tasks and prepare for pandemic prevention and control after society returns to normal life,” he said at a meeting of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control held on Wednesday afternoon.

In addition to strictly controlling people who enter Việt Nam, it was necessary to review the regulations on education and tourism to stop the spread of the disease.

The steering committee asked the Ministry of Education and Training to direct provinces and cities to solve problems relating to the reopening of schools so that students can return after the holidays.

Domestic tourism is being resumed, however, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Transport must monitor and supervise the implementation of disease prevention regulations.

Ministries and agencies are urged to complete documents to ensure production and business in the new period.

In related news, Deputy PM Đam has assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology to coordinate with the Ministry of Health, Academy of Social Sciences and relevant agencies to research and produce a vaccine for COVID-19.

At the meeting held on Wednesday, representatives of the above-mentioned units said they have started studying, isolating and cultivating the virus and have been producing bio-test products since the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19. This has effectively served the pandemic prevention and control efforts in the country. — VNS