Across the country, 111 laboratories are now capable of diagnosing the novel coronavirus by using real-time RT-PCR technology.

Among them, 39 have been given the go-ahead to conduct confirmatory tests, including 22 central-level healthcare establishments and hospitals, 14 centres for disease control, and three other units outside the health sector. Their maximum capacity is 13,000 samples per day.

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Health workers collect samples from small traders in Hanoi's Long Bien Market for rapid tests

The committee said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has provided Vietnam with about 10,000 test kits, and is considering the provision of 40,000 real-time RT-PCR kits made in Germany. Meanwhile, domestic firm Viet A has distributed more than 70,000 test kits to the labs.

The Ministry of Health has also allocated 40 rapid testing machines and over 30,000 accompanying kits, along with 140,000 biological products produced by Viet A for real-time RT-PCR tests.

The facilities have also proactively sought supplies from other domestic and foreign sources.

Vietnam had not recorded any new COVID-19 cases on April 20 morning, keeping the total number at 268. This marked the fourth straight day with no new infections confirmed in the country. Among the patients, 202 have fully recovered.

Source: VNA