On May 26, the Biden administration directed US intelligence officials to take a closer look origin of SARS-CoV-2 , including theories such as animal-to-human transmission and lab leaks. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has so far infected more than 172 million people globally and caused more than 3 million deaths. (Photo courtesy: AFP) To date, the most comprehensive look at the origins of Covid-19 is a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) published on March 30 by an international team of researchers who traveled to China to Investigate the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, weeks later, many countries around the world have expressed concern that investigators have not had access to adequate data, while scientists say the report clearly shows how the virus develope. “The quick and obvious answer is not possible, as it normally takes years to trace the source of the virus. But in this case, I think we have enough evidence to make some hypotheses about SARS-CoV-2,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Center for Global Health Science and Security at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Georgetown University Health, said. In the WHO report, the team found that it is possible that SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted from one animal to another before it was transmitted to humans. They also looked at evidence supporting the hypothesis that the virus was transmitted directly to humans from the original host animal, or that the virus spread through the frozen food supply chain. In addition, the research team said that the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan (China) is “very unlikely”. Below are the evidences for each of the four hypotheses about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 that the WHO report makes. 1. Direct animal-to-human transmission WHO assesses direct transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from animals to humans as a “probable” possibility. The SARS-CoV-2 virus originated in an animal, possibly a bat, and then spread to humans. The WHO report provides evidence that the majority of coronaviruses that infect humans come from animals, including the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak. Bats are thought to be the most likely animal to cause it. epidemics of Covid-19 because they are hosts of a virus that is genetically related to SARS- CoV-2. The WHO report acknowledges the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 spread to humans from pangolins or ferrets. However, David Robertson, a virologist at the University of Glasgow, said that the WHO team of scientists had sampled many animals other than bats for study, and the analysis showed that bats are a natural reservoir for the virus. SARS-CoV-2. 2. Transmission from animals to humans through an intermediate host According to WHO, the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from animals to humans through an intermediate host is very high. In the event that SARS-CoV-2 was not transmitted directly from bats to humans, the scientists believe the most likely hypothesis is that the virus first spread through another animal species, such as a ferret or ferret. pangolin. Unlike bats, these animals are in constant contact with humans, especially if they are raised on farms or during the illegal wildlife trade. If SARS-CoV-2 was initially transmitted to another animal, that could also explain how the virus adapted to harm humans, although Robertson said the virus probably won’t change much. Genome analyzes show that SARS-CoV-2 is a virus specifically adapted to humans, which explains why it can be easily transmitted between pangolins, ferrets, cats and other species. other animals. The WHO report indicates that this is the route that previous corona viruses have taken to infect humans. For example, the SARS virus is believed to have passed from bats to civets before causing an epidemic in humans in 2002. Meanwhile, the virus that causes MERS has been found in camels throughout the Middle East. Daniel Lucey, an infectious diseases specialist at Georgetown University Medical Center, said that the similarities between SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus families like SARS and MERS are a compelling argument that the strain type This virus can be transmitted in the same way. However, if this hypothesis is correct, it remains unclear what the intermediate host for the transmission of the virus from animals to humans is. The WHO team analyzed samples from thousands of domestic animals across China, all of which tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Mr. Lucey said that the WHO team did not adequately examine mink raised in China, one of the suspected intermediate hosts. 3. Transmission through frozen food WHO assesses the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 transmission through frozen food is probable. Another theory is that the virus can be transmitted to humans through the cold supply chain, the supply chain that distributes frozen food. In this case, the virus may have originated outside of China but spread into the country through the surface of the food packaging or in the food itself. This hypothesis gained interest in the summer of 2020 after several outbreaks in China. Since then, there has been some evidence that pathogens can survive longer at cold temperatures. However, while cold supply chains may play a role in new outbreaks, scientists say there is little reason to think that is the source of the pandemic. There is no direct evidence that SARS-CoV-2 causes food-borne outbreaks, while Rasmussen noted that SARS-CoV-2 is rarely spread through surfaces. . “It is not an impossibility. This possibility cannot be ruled out. But I think the current evidence is not enough to show that,” Ms. Rasmussen said. 4. Leaks from the lab According to WHO, the possibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus leaking from the laboratory is extremely unlikely. The most controversial theory about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is that the virus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, where scientists studied coronaviruses in bats. WHO scientists point out that there is little evidence that the virus leaked from the laboratory. An employee works at the laboratory of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (China). Photo: AFP There are 2 possibilities of the SARS-CoV-2 lab leak hypothesis, that is, a researcher was accidentally infected in the laboratory or the researchers intentionally invented a corona virus strain to create SARS. -CoV-2. However, the researchers completely rejected the second possibility that SARS-CoV-2 was created by genetic evidence that the virus arose spontaneously. WHO focuses on the possibility that the virus accidentally escaped from a laboratory where wildlife samples are being studied. Although there have been laboratory leaks in the past, the WHO report indicates that these are very rare. According to the WHO report, there is no record of any laboratory in Wuhan working on a virus closely related to SARS-CoV-2 before the first cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed. diagnosed in December 2019, nor have any laboratory staff reported symptoms of Covid-19. An article by the Wall Street Journal on May 23 stated that three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill in November 2019 and were hospitalized with “symptoms consistent with both Covid-19. -19 and seasonal flu. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on May 25 denied this information. When the WHO report was released in April, Mr. Lucey believed the hypothesis was plausible, although less likely than animal-to-human transmission due to the lack of evidence. Lucey pointed out that there was no forensic investigation of the Wuhan labs. “There really isn’t any way to prove or disprove the lab leak theory based on what is presented in this report,” Ms. Rasmussen said, noting that, to address the issue, A forensic examination of the laboratory is required to find the origin of SARS-COV-2. According to expert Robertson, supporters of the virus lab leak hypothesis argue that SARS-CoV-2 has spread too quickly and effectively in humans to become a virus of natural origin. But if SARS-CoV-2 is a “smart” virus, according to genomic studies, Robertson said, it is not surprising that it infects humans so quickly and so strongly.

This is one of the technology products under the project “Modernizing Vietnam Post’s information technology system” of Vietnam Post.The CAS multi-service transaction system is built on the basis of Riposte solution. of the Escher group, has been successfully applied in 35 countries with a developed postal background. CAS Multi-Service Transaction System is designed specifically for the field of automation, retail customer transactions with 3 technology applications in digital transformation, including: CAS-Counter (at multi-service counters), CAS-Mobile (on mobile devices) and CAS-Kiosk (on vending machines). The CAS-Counter system, after connecting with supporting peripheral devices such as barcode readers, QR code scanners, electronic scales… enables the provision of postal services, postal finance, retail distribution and public administration for customers on a single transaction software, at all post offices and service points of Vietnam Post. Thereby, tellers and service staff only need to perform simple and quick operations on a modern and complete interface, meeting all the needs of customers when receiving services. According to a representative of Vietnam Post, through CAS-Counter, a Vietnam Post teller can simultaneously provide nearly 100 domestic and international postal services, more than 60 collection and payment services, and financial services. administration, public administration and over 5,000 retail goods and products on the same interface and the same software. Not only bringing convenience to postal workers, CAS-Counter also brings convenience to customers when they can use many services at the same time at a single counter when going to the post office. In addition, the operations on the publication will be eliminated, the error of sender and recipient information is minimized; Transaction methods through the electronic system such as using barcodes and QR Codes are applied in conducting transactions on modern application platforms. Maximize support for tellers, increase customer experience In order to create accuracy right from the receiving stage, Vietnam Post synchronizes the CAS-Counter into high-tech platforms such as automatic sorting and picking line systems at mining centers, regional hubs, My VietnamPost app, Dingdong broadcasting software on Smartphone for postmen, PacknSend communication system… All of the above application and software systems have helped businesses shorten the time for the whole postal process to be 1 day for near-regional areas, 2 days and up to 4 days for inter-regional and regional postal services. guaranteed product. For retail services, the system allows quick, convenient, simple and accurate transactions with customers when the product codes are entered directly from the supplier, this ensures transparency. information with the customer, after the transaction, the customer can accurately compare the item code, price and total amount to be paid. When Vietnam Post is licensed by the State Bank of Vietnam as a payment intermediary, CAS-Counter will closely connect with the PostPay electronic payment platform for customers’ collection and payment transactions. From there, CAS-Counter optimizes and corrects every detail when customers use the service, as well as conduct financial and banking transactions through a network of 13,000 service points of the post office. Mr. Nguyen Quoc Vinh – Member of Vietnam Post Board of Directors said: “The CAS-Counter application system has helped CAS-Counter standardize transaction processes in all services being provided throughout the system to customers. customers, turning postal service points into smart service points, and easily defining and adding new services. Here, new service forms on the CAS-Counter ecosystem will be completed, namely CAS-Mobile and CAS- Kios. Automated transactions 24/7 will be quickly introduced and deployed widely, mobile transactions will be deployed throughout the network, with 72 thousand employees becoming 72 thousand local mobile service points. Only customers are the not-so-distant future of Vietnam Post.” Ms. Thanh Tam, teller at Thang Long Post Office, City Post Office. Hanoi shared: “Thang Long Post Office started using the CAS-Counter application from 2020. This is an application with a friendly, modern and easy-to-use interface. Any teller can operate, operate and provide services quickly. The fast and simple way of doing this helps the trader not to have to memorize a lot of information. Customers can check the information sent, received, account number, contract, freight, deposit… right at the screen system located on the counter. The service quality of the service points has been improved, bringing about customer satisfaction”.

Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging app icon. Photo: AFP/VNA MEITy’s new rules require major social media platforms like WhatsApp to “trace” the origin of specific messages sent on the messaging service. However, according to a WhatsApp spokesperson, asking messaging apps to trace chats is equivalent to asking WhatsApp to track every single message sent on the app. This would break end-to-end encryption and fundamentally compromise user privacy. The spokesperson stressed that along with civil society and experts around the world, WhatsApp has always opposed requests to violate user privacy, but the application is owned by this social network Facebook. We will also continue to work with the Government of India to find practical solutions to keep everyone safe, including responding to valid legal requests for the information WhatsApp makes available. Earlier, the press reported that social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Google and Twitter could face legal action in India if they do not comply with a new regulation by the government to strengthen control. control of intermediary platforms, effective May 26. Failure to comply with the above provisions will result in the social media networks being stripped of their intermediary platform status and immunity and will face criminal action under Indian law. The above regulations also require social media companies to appoint a resident grievance officer, regulatory compliance officer and basic contact person, as well as to disclose detailed information about the company. details of these people on their website, along with physical contact addresses. The regulation also requires traceability of the originator of the message and includes a provision for voluntary verification as a way to establish user identity.

Mobile Money serves up to 90% of small transactions Faced with this shortcoming, the Ministry of Information and Communications believes that Mobile Money will be an effective solution to add to the means of payment for Vietnamese people. If Mobile Money service is licensed to telecommunications companies, the coverage of e-payment services will quickly reach 100% of the population. This will promote e-commerce, agricultural commodity exchanges, especially in remote areas, promote online public services, promote Fintech companies, innovative startups, help economic growth. All countries that allow Mobile Money generate economic growth of up to 0.5%. According to calculations by major service providers, Mobile Money will probably serve up to 90% of small transactions. This is an opportunity for telecommunications companies to promote digital transformation of customers. Because, users can easily buy online goods services as well as digital content services in the telecommunications company’s ecosystem. On the contrary, this is also the driving force for telecommunications companies to digitally transform. This will bring great benefits to society to move towards a digital economy and digital society in the future. Commenting on this issue, Mr. Vu Hoang Lien, Chairman of Vietnam Internet Association, said that Mobile Money service will bring many benefits to consumers and society and promote non-cash payments. However, the Mobile Money service will also impact payment intermediary service providers as the service will share the market, customers and business algorithms. However, with the trend of technology, we need to further improve the payment environment to be a driving force for development. “If licensed soon, Mobile Money will be the Government’s first sandbox to create breakthroughs and create strong momentum for new technologies and new services to be introduced to society. If we look at the services If new services bring benefits to the people and the country, it will be very easy to put these sandboxes as a driving force for development. Whether the policy admits new things and new components to the market or does it still keep its own territory for the old ones Sandbox will create a breakthrough legal environment that dares to accept change, accept new things create new vitality of society in the trend of digital transformation,” said Mr. Vu Hoang Lien. Mobile Money: an opportunity for telecom companies The Chairman of Vietnam Internet Association emphasized that the opportunity for telecommunications companies for Mobile Money service is very clear when they have a customer base because most Vietnamese people use mobile phones. The telecommunications company’s services are also the foundation for connecting many essential services of society, so it will open up great opportunities for the development of Mobile Money services. Three major service providers, Viettel, VNPT, and MobiFone have also applied for permission to provide this service. In this race, the company that solves the management problem to bring benefits to customers will prevail. From Mr. Lien’s point of view, Viettel is slightly better than other service providers because of its large customer base and good management. However, telecommunications companies can take advantage of their strengths to attract customers, so this will be a hot market in the near future. Currently, the Government has agreed to test the Mobile Money service for 2 years, but service providers are still waiting for a license. Commenting on this delay, Mr. Mai Liem Truc, former Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications (now the Ministry of Information and Communications) said that Mobile Money was delayed by about 2 years. If this service is licensed early, it will bring many benefits to society and the economy. Mr. Truc also emphasized, Sandbox is the direction for the Government to vigorously test new technology services that bring benefits to the people and the country. “Sandbox” is a pilot institutional framework, allowing a small number of businesses, to test new technologies and new business models in a practical environment but with a defined scope and time, under the supervision of regulators and have appropriate hedging plans in place to prevent the consequences of failure without having a major impact on the national financial system. Following the government’s direction, the State Bank is currently building regulatory sandboxes for financial and banking services based on information technology, including Mobile Money.

Recognizing the importance of developing the science and technology market, the Hanoi Party Committee (XVII session) issued Program No. 07-CTr/TU (March 17, 2021) on “Promoting development development of science, technology and innovation in Hanoi city in the period of 2021-2025.” Accordingly, one of the important requirements is to soon build a Hanoi technology trading floor, moving forward. As a national technology exchange, connecting with major technology centers of the world, implementing this task, Hanoi city has assigned the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology to develop the “Project to build a project” building and operating the technology trading floor of Hanoi city”. Technology exchanges play a core role in the development of the science and technology market. In the context that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is taking place strongly, when building the Hanoi technology exchange, it is necessary to ensure all modern features of technology – techniques, most convenient for users. , bringing real benefits to the participants. In addition, there should be a connection with domestic and international exchanges, creating an organic link between research and application of scientific and technological results, commercialization of scientific and technological products. … For the exchange to work effectively, the participation of businesses, scientists, research institutes and universities is essential. The business community needs to improve the quality of governance, build a suitable human resource; actively “shake hands” with universities and research institutes to closely follow market demand and create products with high technology content. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure close association with intermediary organizations and scientists, improve the capacity to absorb, master and apply new technologies. Another important requirement is to focus on the human factor. For the field of science and technology, market development personnel will have more special requirements than other fields, not only needing knowledge of business and law but also knowledge of science, technology… Therefore, it is necessary to have attractive mechanisms and policies to attract a team of good experts, capable of consulting, closely connecting supply – demand; trained human resources with expertise and skills to effectively manage and operate the trading floor. The Hanoi Technology Exchange, which is built and soon comes into operation, will contribute to promoting the science, technology and innovation market. This will be the main driving force for the capital’s socio-economic development in the coming time.

.