Month: January 2021

Abu Dhabi, January 4, 2021 (WAM) - A Covid-19 vaccination campaign has been launched in Abu Dhabi under the supervision of the Ministry of Health Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Public Health Center. The "Choose to be Vaccinated" campaign asks everyone to be vaccinated to protect themselves from Covid-19 and to know that we are all protected together. The Covid-19 vaccine is available free of charge to all UAE nationals and residents. Abu Dhabi's rigorous approach to managing the pandemic, including mass screening and testing and proactive follow-up, has enabled the emirate to successfully maintain its rate of confirmed cases at 0.39% of the total screenings conducted in the emirate. The vaccination campaign aims to maintain the health gains made to date in curbing the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure that Abu Dhabi will continue to play a leading role in the overall protection of the population. Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hammam, Chairman of Abu Dhabi's Ministry of Health, said, " The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged the world in unprecedented ways. In Abu Dhabi, we are proud to prioritize protecting communities and containing the spread of the virus, while actively seeking solutions by collaborating with other global leaders to participate in clinical trials that will help ensure a vaccine is available now. "As we move into 2021, we want to ensure that our people remain safe, which is why vaccines are rigorously tested to ensure their safety, efficacy and quality. I hope you choose to get vaccinated to protect your health and the health of our country." Abu Dhabi Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Jamal Mohammed Alkabi said, "The approved Covid-19 vaccine is safe and will provide recipients with the immunity they need to protect themselves. I hope everyone chooses to get vaccinated to help get our lives back to normal." Matar Saeed Al-Nuaimi, director of Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, said, "Vaccination is the easiest, most effective way to stay safe. Throughout history, vaccines have saved millions of lives worldwide. " Covid-19 won't go away unless we fight back, and the most effective way to do that is with a vaccine. I want everyone to choose to get vaccinated, break the chain of infection and be part of the victory against this pandemic." Immunization through vaccination is the safest, most effective way to curb the spread of Covid-19. Vaccination boosts the body's natural immunity to disease and has saved millions of lives in recent decades.

UAE announces mandatory PCR testing for government employees every 14 days

• The UAE government has announced that employees of all ministries and federal entities will undergo mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing every 14 days starting January 17, 2021. The decision is part of the government's efforts to limit the spread of the virus, preserve employee health and maintain a safe working environment, the Federal Government's Human Resources Authority said in a circular letter issued Tuesday. the 14-day rule also applies to employees of outsourcing and public service companies who work full-time. Employees of consulting and expert services firms that deal with government agencies on a one-time basis are required to provide valid PCR tests for no more than three days. The circular also states that all employees of ministries, departments and federal entities shall be examined at their own expense, except for those who provide a medical report issued by the country's official health authorities to avoid vaccination for disease or health In such cases, the employer shall pay for a nasal swab test every 14 days. The notice adds that those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are not subject to the new regulations. In its Circular No. 02 of 2021, the Federal Government Human Resources Management Authority reminded that the COVID-19 vaccine is available free of charge at all government health centers across the country, as well as at several private hospitals. The authorities also asked all federal government departments and entities to encourage their employees to get vaccinated, especially those with chronic diseases and the elderly.

According to Cambodian media reports, the World Health Organization representative in Cambodia said that according to the current progress of the vaccine trial, it is hoped that the vaccine will arrive in each country as soon as possible, and the earliest batch of vaccine donated to Cambodia is expected to arrive in March 2021, but it is not completely sure yet. It has been a year since the first cases of the new epidemic emerged in Cambodia, and the epidemic took a turn for the worse with a "city closure" and a response that flattened the curve one round after another, but in the end, it was difficult to prevent the fish from slipping through the net and importing community-transmitted infections from abroad in October. On December 8, four new cases of ZANDO and Pedro-associated infections were confirmed in Cambodia. By the morning of December 9, 354 cases have been confirmed in Cambodia, 307 cases have been cured, and 47 cases have been confirmed. The threat of the epidemic is never far from Cambodia, and the cycle of surviving a brief outbreak and falling into a new crisis is never ending. If we want to defeat the epidemic, the best hope is the vaccine, which is a powerful tool against mass epidemics.

The pandemic, research institutions and enterprises in many countries have invested a lot of human and financial resources in the research and development of new crown vaccines, and about 11 new crown vaccines around the world are now in the final testing stage, and countries have started to purchase vaccines for their nationals. Prime Minister Hun Sen also recently announced that the vaccine will be purchased in stages for free vaccination for the nationals, and 1 million doses will be purchased in the first stage. The vaccine purchase plan has received strong support from the nation, with several well-known real estate tycoons and entrepreneurs donating money to support the government's anti-epidemic campaign. So far, the government has raised $30 million in donations. This is exciting news, but the 1 million doses of vaccine will only satisfy 500,000 people (because each person needs 2 injections). Cambodia currently has a total population of about 16 million, and further access to vaccines is needed to reach universal coverage. As the red sea of global infection maps continues to open up, more and more people are pinning their hopes on the vaccine to reach the goal of universal immunization, which we all hope for. However, there is still a waiting process before this step can be taken. To protect ourselves, we need to strictly comply with vaccination measures, wear masks, wash our hands regularly, go out less and do not gather.

The Vietnam News Agency Express Online reported that the Vietnamese government issued Government Resolution No. 1 on the main tasks and measures to achieve the socio-economic development plan and the state budget for 2021. The resolution specifies that it will continue to achieve the dual goals of effective prevention and control of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic and restoration of socio-economic development under the new normal. The economic targets set by the government for 2021 are: GDP growth of about 6.5%, GDP per capita of about US$3,700, annual growth rate of the consumer price index (CPI) of about 4%, contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to growth of about 45-47%, and social labor productivity growth of about 4.8%. The resolution stresses that Vietnam will continue to properly control the entry of people to prevent the import of the epidemic from outside and consider reopening international commercial routes when conditions permit. Accelerate vaccine development and international cooperation to provide solutions for early access to vaccines for the population.

Meanwhile, the government continues to provide support in the areas of credit, finance, and tax reduction to help people and businesses overcome difficulties and resume production in the post-epidemic period. In addition to improving the legal system, relevant departments will strictly control the promulgation of documents related to investment conditions, operations, administrative procedures, and special inspections to ensure an open and favorable investment and business environment for enterprises. Promote the development of financial, securities and insurance markets and strengthen the management of the corporate bond market. The government requires the National Bank to cooperate with fiscal and other policies for active and flexible regulation to ensure the safety of the system, stabilize the macroeconomy, and provide support for the resumption of economic growth. The management of prices of electricity, refined oil products and other important goods and services will be made open and transparent to ensure a balance between supply and demand of basic commodities and stabilize market prices. The need to diversify import and export markets and avoid over-reliance on a single market was emphasized. Effective implementation of signed free trade agreements and continued negotiation of new FTAs. Accelerate economic restructuring in sectors such as agriculture, transportation services, and credit institutions. Continue to shrink wholly state-owned enterprise operations, promote demutualization and asset divestment of state-owned capital, and firmly focus on loss-making and poorly performing projects.

While many countries have endured extremely high rates of infection and mortality from the new coronavirus, Vietnam, with a population of 96 million, has fewer than 1,500 confirmed cases and only 35 deaths. Massive quarantines, extensive contact tracing and strict travel controls kept Vietnam's factories largely operational and people back to work quickly.

On January 1, local time, Harry Roque, spokesman of the Philippine Presidency, said that based on the joint recommendation of the Philippine Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Presidency has decided to restrict the entry of travelers from the United States from the early hours of January 3, 2021 until January 15 to prevent the entry of the mutated New Coronavirus into the Philippines. Also, foreign travelers will be barred from entry if they have visited the United States within the last 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines.

In addition, foreign travelers from the U.S. or who have visited the U.S. within the past 14 days may enter the Philippines if they arrived before January 3. Upon entry, travelers are subject to strict vaccination rules and must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at a quarantine facility designated by the Philippine government, even if they test negative for New Coronavirus. Filipino citizens are not affected by this restriction and may enter the Philippines, but must also undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine.

The Philippine Presidency has announced that the government has decided to extend the national state of disaster already in place until September 12, 2021, in light of the ongoing new crown epidemic in the country. Unless a new decree cancels or continues to extend this state earlier.

In view of the seriousness of the Newcastle Pneumonia epidemic in the country, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin announced the implementation of the MCO 2.0 in five states, namely Sabah, Selangor, Penang, Johor, Malacca and three Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan) for a period of two weeks from January 13 to January 26. He pointed out that the government will implement the control orders by state. Apart from the above states, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan will implement the Conditional Control Orders (CMCO).

As for Perlis and Sarawak, the RMCOs will continue to be implemented. The Prime Minister said it was necessary for the government to implement stricter CMCOs to control the spread of the epidemic in the country. Speaking on air today, Muhyiddin said that in order to reduce the spread of the disease, all social events involving groups of people, such as weddings, conferences, religious processions, including the Thaipusam Festival, Chinese New Year, conferences, seminars, courses and sporting events, are banned in all states where RMCOs are in place. National interstate ban During this period, cross-county travel is banned in all states, and in those states where a control order is in force, cross-county travel is also prohibited. From 12.00am on the 13th of this month, all movements in the states under the decree will be restricted to a 10km radius. Anyone who breaches these rules will be issued a RM1,000 fine. As for the economic sector, the government has identified only five basic key sectors as being allowed to operate, including factories and manufacturing, construction, services, trade and distribution, and plantation and primary industries. All non-critical areas are compulsory home work.