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Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand is now able to produce new COVID-19 test kits itself with RT-PCR, a standard laboratory technique recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The test kits were developed by the cooperation of Siam Bioscience and the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC), said Spokesman of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESRI), Siam Bioscience, and DMSC have already delivered the first batch of 20,000 test kits to the Government. This innovation can solve the shortage of test kits by lowering the cost of production to only 1,500 baht (45 USD) each, whereas the imported ones may cost approximately 4,500 baht each. Moreover, Siam Bioscience and DMSC are aiming to produce and deliver 100,000 test kits to the Government within six months for distributing to 100 hospitals nationwide. Meanwhile, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) … [Read more...] about Thailand produces new COVID-19 test kits

"Those qualities helped Kobe lead us to five titles -- and have now brought him to the Hall of Fame, where he will be enshrined with the greatest to have ever played the game," Buss said. … [Read more...] about Bryant heads 2020 Hall of Fame honorees

Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesia’s Jakarta administration has decided to extend the closure of tourist destinations and entertainment venues until April 19 as part of the capital’s effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. Head of the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency Cucu Ahmad Kurnia said previously, the Jakarta administration announced the temporary closure of city-owned tourist destinations and entertainment venues from March 23 to April 5. The Indonesian government has outlined a worst-case scenario where the domestic economy contracts by 0.4 percent as the COVID-19 pandemic arrests swaths of economic activity and poses recessionary risks to Southeast Asia’s largest economy, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Indonesia’s economy grew by 5.02 percent last year, already the slowest in four years. The World Bank has estimated that the COVID-19 pandemic will significantly slow Indonesia’s economic growth this year – 2.1 percent … [Read more...] about Indonesia extends closure of tourist destinations to contain COVID-19 spread

They were the words repeated over and over by a British man as he was discharged from the Quảng Nam Central General Hospital on Sunday after making a full recovery from COVID-19 following 20 days of treatment. … [Read more...] about British man gives thanks as he makes full recovery

It comes after some studies suggested the new coronavirus can be spread through speaking and breathing, not just coughing and sneezing. US authorities said wearing a simple homemade mask or scarf could help stem rocketing infection rates. … [Read more...] about Global virus deaths top 60,000, Trump warns of ‘tough week’ ahead