The Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) distributed 10,000 medical masks, 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and leaflets on coronavirus prevention in Hanoi capital city on Friday.
People can get free masks and hand sanitizer at three sites, including the Vietnam Red Cross Headquarters Office at 82 Nguyễn Du Street and 68 Bà Triệu Street or the Hanoi Post Office at 75 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District in Hanoi. Vietnam News Agency reports.
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The move was part of the group’s communication campaign to strengthen the awareness of Red Cross members, volunteers and the community on the coronavirus epidemic and disease prevention measures.
Also at the launch ceremony, the VNRC experts organized a demonstration to instruct people how to correctly use masks and wash their hands with antiseptic soap.
“Coronavirus is transmitted from human to human through close and direct contact with the saliva of infected patients and objects. Washing hands regularly with soap and disinfectant is the best way to prevent the coronavirus,” said VNRC Vice President Trần Quốc Hùng.
The society also provided US$47,200 for nine provinces and cities, including Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa, Vinh Phuc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh and Lang Sơn, to implement communication activities and raise awareness about epidemic prevention and healthcare for the community. At all levels, local Red Cross associations have distributed 101,470 free textile and medical masks and 15,000 soap bars and disinfectant liquids to people nationwide.
Previously, on February 1, the Vietnam Red Cross donated 40,000 N95 medical masks, worth US$100,000, to help Chinese people prevent the coronavirus epidemic.
To support the Vietnam Red Cross’s activities, the International Association of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies allocated US$50,000, the Procter & Gamble Co., Ltd. donated 1,200 safeguard disinfectant liquid bottles; Viet Sin Co., Ltd. donated 80,000 N95 masks and Ying Tong (Vietnam) Co., Ltd donated 100,000 medical masks to Chinese people affected by the epidemic.
As of 7am Friday, the epidemic had claimed 639 lives and infected 31,481 people in 27 countries and territories, according to the Ministry of Health. Vietnam has reported 12 people with novel coronavirus, 3 of them already discharge from the hospital.
By VNS