Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (Nov.19): Daily Tally Exceeds 10,000, Nearly Half in Community

Photo: Zing News

Daily Covid tally exceeds 10,000 with nearly half in community

The Ministry of Health announced an additional 10,223 new Covid-19 infections on November 18 across 60 provinces and cities nationwide, an increase of 370 cases from the previous day. It is the second time this week that daily cases have topped 10,000. Among the new cases, 14 were imported and the rest were local transmissions. A total of 5,454 new infections were detected in the community.

Ho Chi Minh City continues to record the highest daily case count with 1,609, followed by Binh Duong with 686 and Tay Ninh with 632. The capital city of Hanoi logged 202 new cases.

The Ministry also confirmed 139 Covid-19 fatalities over the past 24 hours, including 42 in Ho Chi Minh City and 22 in Binh Duong.

Photo: Zing News

Hanoi requests lights out in tribute to Covid victims

Hanoi calls for residents to swap electric lights for candles at 8:30 p.m. Friday to pay tribute to Covid-19 victims. A ceremony at Thong Nhat Park would commence at 8 p.m. and last for around 30-45 minutes, according to the municipal People’s Committee. It would be televised nationally and host around 300 people, including family members of those who died of Covid-19. Participants must be fully vaccinated and test negative for the coronavirus 72 hours prior.

The ceremony is expected to showcase images and videos regarding the Covid-19 fight in Vietnam and speeches from officials. Participants would light lanterns and let them float on Ba Mau Lake inside the park as tribute. Religious institutions like churches and pagodas would ring their bells at 8:30 p.m. During the ceremony, the city would suspend all entertainment activities and performances. Other tribute ceremonies may also commence in Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, Da Nang, and Bac Giang, all Covid-19 hotspots once.

"The ceremony is to pay tribute to the people who died of Covid-19 and share the loss of their loved ones," VN Express quoted Phung Khanh Tai, deputy chairman of Vietnamese Fatherland Front.

Photo: Thanh Nien

Hanoi scraps quarantine for visitors from high-risk areas

Hanoi has scrapped quarantine requirements for visitors from high-risk areas, two days after it was imposed and met with opposition from experts and the public. The city now demands self-isolation or self-monitoring based on the visitors' vaccination status.

People are fully vaccinated or who have recovered from Covid-19 will have to self-monitor their health for seven days after arrival and be tested on the first day, according to a decision issued Thursday night. Those who have not been fully vaccinated have to self-isolate for seven days, be tested twice during this period, and monitor their health for another seven days. People who have not received any vaccine shot have to isolate themselves for 14 days, and be tested for the coronavirus on the seventh and 14th days.

Earlier Hanoi imposed seven-day self-isolation on everyone traveling from high-risk areas, as well as the medium-risk HCMC and several southern provinces. The requirement prompted several people to cancel their travel plans while experts said it did not fit in Vietnam's new strategy of living safely with Covid-19.

Photo: VN Express

HCM City suggests further assistance to Covid-19-hit old persons, orphans

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs on November 16 sent a document to the municipal People’s Committee suggesting more assistance for lonely older people and orphans affected by Covid-19 in the city. Accordingly, they will receive health insurance cards, travel pass cards used on public transport means, and entrance tickets to entertainment and cultural areas, sport clubs, and other paid services free of charge.

The poor and lonely old persons aged above 60 are expected to receive VND 1 million (US$ 43.4) each per month while those aged above 80 are eligible for VND 800,000 (US$ 34,8) each month till the end of their life. The lonely poor and old persons aged 60-80 who are capable of self-catering will receive VND 650,000 (US$ 28,2) each month while those who are not poor are eligible for VND 480,000 (US$ 20,9) till their death.

Children who become orphans caused by the pandemic will be allowed to pursue study till high school level for free. Orphans aged under four will receive 1 million each per month while those aged above four will obtain VND 800,000 till they reach 18. To ensure fairness and equality for all orphans in general and Covid orphans in particular, the department proposed providing an additional VND 480,000 each for 1,413 orphans who are receiving social subsidies in the community till they turn 18.

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