US Embassy presents COVID-19 lab equipment to Defence Ministry

Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The US Embassy in Vietnam on July 6 presented lab equipment for COVID-19 testing to the Ministry of National Defence to aid the fight against the coronavirus.

On behalf of the Ministry of National Defence, Maj. Gen. Nguyen Xuan Kien, Director of the Military Medicine Department under the General Department of Logistics, thanked the US Embassy for the donation, saying it is very timely and important as it will help ease testing overload in Vietnam and increase the ministry’s capacity in COVID-19 response in the coming time.

US Chargé d'Affaires Christopher Klein (left) and Maj. Gen. Nguyen Xuan Kien, Director of the Military Medicine Department under the General Department of Logistics, at the handover ceremony. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

US Chargé d'Affaires Christopher Klein said the US and Vietnam have closely coordinated in combating the COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic. He also expressed his thanks to Vietnam for supporting the US in the toughest time when it was hit hard by the COVID-19 last year.

Klein expected the lab equipment would assist the Military Medicine Department in providing mobile testing services for people and strengthen Vietnam’s resilience in managing the COVID-19 crisis.

Vietnam reported 277 more COVID-19 infections over the past 12 hours to 6am on July 7, taking the national tally to 22,341. Ho Chi Minh City remained the country’s largest hotspot with 270 new cases./.

VNA