Canada offers Vietnam 120,000 masks to boost Covid-19 response

Deborah Paul, Canadian ambassador to Vietnam, handed the masks to Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong at the ministry’s headquarters in Hanoi on Tuesday.

"Canada is working closely with the government of Vietnam in the fight against Covid-19," said the ambassador.

"Canada is pleased with the progress we have made in recent years to address some of the most serious threats to global health security, including the threat posed by Covid and other emerging infectious diseases. Vietnam has been a key partner in this regard, and we look forward to continued close collaboration," she added.

The donation is part of Canada’s support to ASEAN partners to combat Covid-19. Through its Weapons Threat Reduction Program, Canada has provided a total 690,000 items of personal protective equipment, or PPE, valued at $3.44 million to six ASEAN member states and ASEAN Secretariat.

"On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I express our gratitude to the Canadian government for this contribution, which will help counter the threat posed by Covid-19," said Deputy Minister Cuong.

Canada has registered more than 277,000 Covid-19 infections and over 10,600 deaths while Vietnam has recorded 1,252 cases and 35 fatalities so far.