Changi International Airport in Singapore - Photo for illustration (Source: dulichvietnam.com.vn)
"The risk of importation of the disease from these countries is low," said the authority, noting that over the last 28 days, Vietnam has seen zero local COVID-19 infections while Australia (excluding Victoria State) recorded a low virus incidence rate of 0.02 cases per 100,000 people.
Visitors from Australia and Vietnam will be able to apply for the Air Travel Pass for entry into Singapore from today (Oct 1). The earliest day they will be able to enter Singapore will be Oct 8.
The scheme allows for all forms of short-term travel, including leisure travel. This is in contrast to the reciprocal green lane arrangements between countries, which are usually for essential business and official travel only.
Visitors will have to take a swab test upon arrival and may go about their activities after they provide a negative test result. They will have to use the TraceTogether app for the duration of their stay in Singapore, among other conditions.
CAAS also said that Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning from Australia (excluding Victoria State) and Vietnam will be able take a COVID-19 test upon arrival.
The agency added that it has updated Singapore’s travel advisory to allow for travel to Australia (excluding Victoria) and Vietnam. Accordingly, it advised travellers to check the entry requirements imposed by these countries and to take necessary precautions during their travels.
Earlier, Singapore removed travel restrictions for visitors from Brunei and New Zealand.
Vietnam to conduct COVID-19 vaccine trials on humans in 2021
Four local vaccine manufacturers are putting every effort into developing a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, with one of the manufacturers expected to conduct phase one and phase two clinical trials by 2021, according to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long during at a seminar introducing vaccines against COVID-19 on September 30, the Voice of Vietnam reports.
Photo for illustration (Source: baochinhphu.vn)
As one of 42 countries that is capable of producing vaccines, the nation is speeding up its research process in a bid to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, with the Ministry of Health directing manufacturers to step up research activities in order to eventually lead to mass production of a vaccine.
The four local manufacturers of a COVID-19 vaccine include the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (VABIOTECH), the Research Center for Vaccine Production and Medical Biologicals (POLYVAC), and Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
At present, the country’s potential COVID-19 vaccines are being trialed in an experimental capacity on mice.
Minister Long added that the nation has not recorded any COVID-19 community infection cases since September 3, while the country has stepped up research activities in an effort to develop a suitable COVID-19 vaccine and increase access to vaccines being produced worldwide.
Furthermore, Vietnam is also one of 92 countries participating in the "COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility” (COVAX Facility) scheme and it is expected to get early access to vaccines from Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Moreover, the nation has recently ordered vaccines from three countries, including Russia, the United States, and the UK, while actively seeking other sources through direct discussions with foreign manufacturers.
Trade surplus hits record high of USD17 billion over nine-month period
The General Statistics Office released that Vietnamese exports have maintained positive growth, with the trade surplus reaching approximately USD17 billion, whilst the trade deficit stands at USD8.16 billion, amid challenging developments relating to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which has vastly disrupted international trade, according to the Voice of Vietnam.
Photo for illustration (Source: vilas.edu.vn)
Total merchandise import and export turnover during September was at an estimated USD51.5 billion, a rise of 15% over the same period from last year, bringing the overall nine-month import and export turnover to USD388.73 billion, representing an annual rise of 1.8%.
In terms of the record trade surplus recorded over the reviewed period, major contributions came from the foreign-invested sector.
The sector, which includes crude oil, ran a trade deficit of USD27.51 billion, while the domestic economic sector witnessed a trade deficit of USD10.52 billion.
With regard to the export and import of goods throughout the reviewed period, the GSO reported that export turnover was estimated to stand at USD202.86 billion, a rise of 4.2% on-year.
The nine-month period witnessed 30 items with an export turnover of over USD1 billion, account for 91.3% of the country’s overall export turnover. Among these, there were five items which recorded export turnover of more than USD10 billion, making up 59.8%.
Throughout the reviewed period, the United States remained the largest export market for local goods, with a turnover of USD54.8 billion, marking an annual increase of 22.9%. This was followed by China at USD31.9 billion, a rise of 12.7%, the EU at USD26 billion, down by 2.6%, ASEAN at USD17 billion, a fall of 12.5%, the Republic of Korea (RoK) at USD14.5 billion, a decline of 2%, and Japan at USD14.1 billion, a drop of 5.7%.
Furthermore, import turnover was estimated to have reached USD185.87 billion, representing a decline of 0.8% from the same period last year, with 32 import items valued at more than USD1 billion, making up 88.3% of total Vietnamese import turnover.
In terms of the import market, China represents the country’s largest import market throughout the nine-month period, with a turnover of USD56.8 billion, an annual rise of 2.7%.
The northern neighbour was trailed by the RoK at USD32.8 billion, ASEAN at USD21.8 billion, Japan at USD14.6 billion, the EU at USD10.8 billion, and the US at USD10.5 billion./.