Photo: Dong Nai CDC

Vietnam records 3,168 new local Covid cases

The Ministry of Health on October 18 announced 3,168 new Covid-19 cases, including nine imported. Five southern localities saw three-digit numbers of new cases today: HCM City (968 cases), Binh Duong (439), Dong Nai (393), Soc Trang (174), and An Giang (109), followed by four more Mekong Delta provinces: Kien Giang (99), Tien Giang (94), Ca Mau (77), Long An (68) and Dong Thap (61), showing that the southern regions continue to be the country's biggest hotspot.

A further 75 deaths were also announced, mostly in southern provinces and cities, with 51 in Ho Chi Minh City and 14 in Binh Duong province. In the past 24 hours, 107,224 pooled Covid-19 tests were performed on 202,147 people, VNA cited.

Photo: Zing News

Da Nang to reboot tourism from October 20

The central city of Da Nang plans to reboot local tourism from October 20, as the Covid-19 pandemic has been under control. From November, the city will embark on a “travel bubble” with the central province of Quang Nam and the northern province of Quang Ninh, heard a meeting between the municipal People’s Council and local voters last week.

Also in November, the city will serve international visitors who come for official duty, visit relatives and return home. They will be put under quarantine for a week and follow other regulations by the Health Ministry. Others include tourists on full-package tours and those with vaccine passports, focusing on those from the Republic of Korea and Russia. Russia plans to bring 2,000 – 4,000 visitors to Vietnam each month, Hanh said.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh said between now and early 2022, the city will continue facing difficulties caused by the pandemic. In order to restore its economy, the city will suggest the State allocate more vaccines for the second jabs and those aged 12-17. In the immediate future, Da Nang will build economic recovery scenarios for the last three months and 2022, resume several services and pilot domestic and foreign tourism activities in line with the most suitable roadmap, he said.

Photo: Nhan Dan

Thai Binh stops operation of Covid-19 checkpoints from October 17

Covid-19 checkpointsat the gateways to and from the northern province of Thai Binh have been temporarily closed from 12:00 am October 17, 2021, according to an official dispatch issued by the provincial People’s Committee. Under the document, all previous regulations contrary to the dispatch are annulled. People arriving in or returning to Thai Binh province must fill health declarations and strictly comply with Covid-19 prevention and control measures.

At the same time, the provincial People’s Committee required local authorities to further speed up the distribution of vaccines and the progress of vaccination against the pandemic. Passenger and goods transport activities in the locality must comply with the direction of the Prime Minister and the guidance of the Ministry of Transport.

Chairpersons of People's Committees of Thai Binh city and districts have been requested to urgently approve plans for Covid-19 prevention and control at business and service establishments, entertainment establishments, tourist sites, and religious and worship establishments, historical sites, towards resuming activities at these establishments. Local residents are asked to promptly notify the local authorities if they detect any arrivals who do not make medical declarations or abide by Covid-19 prevention regulations.

Photo: Zing News

Vietnam spends US$1.3 bln on Covid-19 fight

Vietnam has spent more than VND30 trillion ($1.32 billion) from the state budget on fighting the novel coronavirus, the Covid-19 fighting committee reported. Of this, the Ministry of Health received around VND21.2 trillion, which is used to purchase vaccines, build ICUs and treat patients. The Ministry of Public Security received VND1.4 trillion, and the Ministry of National Defense received VND2.7 trillion, the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 said Sunday.

Around VND5.2 trillion was distributed to localities with complex pandemic situations, including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Hai Duong, all major industrial hubs. 137,000 tons of rice from the national reserve have been distributed to 31 localities to ensure food security during the pandemic, according to VN Express.

Several businesses and organizations, both inside and outside of Vietnam, and foreign governments have also provided thousands of ventilators, masks, test kits, and other tools and equipment for the coronavirus fight. Around 300,000 personnel from medical, military, and police forces have been dispatched throughout the country. Of these, 20,000 were health workers, 133,000 were military personnel and 126,000 were with the police force.

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