No new COVID-19 infections logged on March 9 morning Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 cases in the past 12 hours to 6:00 am on March 9, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The country recorded 1,586 domestically-transmitted infections, including 893 cases since the latest outbreak began on January 27. As many as 45,219 people who came in close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are under quarantine nationwide, including 506 in hospitals, 14,266 in other quarantine sites, and 30,446 at home. Among the patients under treatment, 65 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, 57 twice, and 137 thrice. The Treatment Sub-committee said that 1,920 patients have been declared to be clear of the coronavirus so far. Vietnam launched its COVID-19 vaccination programme on March 8, with healthcare workers being first in the queue. They received AstraZeneca vaccine shots, which was granted the Emergency Use Listing by the World Health Organisation for active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 in individuals aged from 18. In a bid to live safely with the pandemic, people should strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration)./. Dozens of illegal immigrants found in border provinces Police in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang have detected tens of Chinese citizens illegally entering Vietnam. The provincial steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control said on March 8 that 34 illegal Chinese immigrants had been sent to concentrated quarantine facilities and tested for COVID-19. Further investigation and contact tracing are underway. Local authorities and residents were asked to stay vigilant and follow pandemic preventive measures. Earlier on March 4 and 7, police in Chau Doc city found automobiles carrying seven and 13 Chinese …