Singapore to scrap most COVID-19 restrictions from April 26

Singapore will remove most of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions from April 26 and ease its entry requirements for travellers as the city-state has seen a decline in new daily infections, the Ministry of Health said.

The measures include removing limits on group sizes and allowing the full return of employees to workplaces, while lowering the Southeast Asian financial hub’s alert level for the first time since the pandemic started.

The Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (Dorscon) level, which indicates the current disease situation, will also be lowered from orange to yellow. Singapore has been at Dorscon orange since February 7, 2020.

Authorities also announced the scrapping of a requirement for vaccinated travellers to take a COVID test before departing for Singapore.

Some rules will remain, however, such as the mandatory wearing of face masks in indoor public settings and on public transport.

Many of the restrictions will remain in place for non-vaccinated individuals, however.

Singapore has inoculated 93 percent of its 5.5 million population, one of the world’s highest rates. It has also achieved one of the lowest COVID fatality rates./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Women play crucial role in Vietnamese, Cuban revolutions: officials

The role of Vietnamese and Cuban women in their respective countries’ revolutions was highlighted during recent meetings between a visiting delegation of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and senior officials of Cuba.

Welcoming the VWU guests, who paid an official visit to Cuba from April 19 to 23, Roberto Morales Ojeda, Politburo member and Secretary of Organisation of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, affirmed that women’s outstanding role in his country’s society today is one of the biggest achievements of the Cuban revolution.

He also underlined women’s presence in and contributions to the Cuban Party, State, and administration agencies as well as many social aspects, especially in health care and scientific research with considerable dedication to the COVID-19 combat.

Ha Thi Nga, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of the VWU Central Committee, informed her host about Vietnam’s latest achievements in improving women’s role in every aspect and the VWU’s position in promoting gender equality.

She also emphasised Vietnam’s consistent policy of supporting the Cuban Party and people’s protection of their sovereignty and right to self-determining their development path.

At another meeting with the Vietnamese delegation, Vice President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba Ana María Mari Machado noted her country’s lawmaking efforts to enforce the 2019 Constitution and steps taken to legalise women’s rights and interests in this process.

Nga said the similarities of the two countries’ revolutionary women, along with the friendship and cooperation between their women’s unions, are meaningful contributions to the special ties between the Vietnamese and Cuban people.

The VWU delegation also met with President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernández.

At the events, the two sides reaffirmed the resolve to protect the legacy of their great leaders Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro Ruz, continue their countries’ path to socialism, and further intensify the traditional and close-knit relations in all areas.

During their trip, the VWU delegation had working sessions with leaders of the most important mass organisations of Cuba, including the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution, the Workers’ Central Union of Cuba, the Young Communist League, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, and the Cuba – Vietnam Friendship Association.

They also laid wreaths at President Ho Chi Minh monument in Havana, visited the Fidel Castro Ruz centre, some key biotechnological, cultural, and economic establishments, and attended a celebration of the 61st anniversary of the Giron victory (April 19, 1961)./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam logs 8,813 new COVID-19 cases on April 24

Vietnam on April 24 recorded an additional 8,813 new COVID-19 infections, including one imported case, the Ministry of Health announced.

The capital city of Hanoi continued to log the highest number of infections, with 970 cases.

It was followed by northern Bac Giang, Phu Tho and Quang Ninh provinces, which reported 540, 511 and 495 cases, respectively.

The new infections brought the country’s total caseload since the pandemic broke out to 10,563,502.

The same day, 4,581 patients were declared to fully recover from the disease, lifting the total number of recoveries to 9,086,075.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 43,013 after nine fatalities were announced on April 24.

The country has so far administered more than 212.39 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency