With 111 laboratories nationwide now capable of diagnosing the novel coronavirus by using the Real-time RT-PCR technology, Vietnam can conduct 13,000 Covid-19 tests a day and basically meets demand for confirmatory testing for Covid-19, Vietnam News Agency reported.

A health worker of the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control is taking a throat swab sample from an elder. Photo: Pham Hung

Of the 111 laboratories, 39 have been given the go-ahead to conduct confirmation tests, including 22 central-level healthcare establishments and hospitals, 14 centers for disease control (CDCs), and three other units outside the health sector, according to a report of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on April 20.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided Vietnam with about 10,000 tests kits and is considering the provision of 40,000 Real-time RT-PCR kits made in Germany. In addition, Viet A Corp., a Vietnamese company, has provided more than 70,000 test kits.

Vietnam’s health ministry has also allocated 40 rapid testing machines along with over 30,000 kits, 140,000 biological products manufactured by Viet A JSC for Real-time RT-PCR tests, and is expected to allocate another 100,000 kits.

Besides, facilities for conducting Covid -19 have also proactively sought supplies from other domestic and foreign sources.

Vietnam has not recorded any new Covid-19 cases for four consecutive days, keeping the case count at 268. Among the patients, 214 have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

The number of new Covid-19 cases has decreased gradually thanks to the local government’s policy of social distancing, according to experts.