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New Covid cases on October 28 top 4,892

Vietnam recorded 4,892 cases of Covid-19 on October 28, up 472 cases from the previous day, according to the Ministry of Health. Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, topped localities and cities in infection numbers, registering 1,069.

Other southern localities that documented high numbers of cases include Dong Nai with 745 new cases, Binh Duong 618, An Giang 286, Tay Ninh 190, Kien Giang 160, Tien Giang 139, and Can Tho 138. Quang Nam suddenly confirmed 129 new cases over 24 hours, topping central localities. Similarly, the northern border province of Ha Giang has recorded just a few cases daily saw as many as 184 people test positive during the day.

Hanoi capital also reported 31 new cases, with most of them closely linked to the complicated outbreak in its outlying district of Thanh Oai. Dozens of cases have been detected in Thanh Oai over the past few days, and local authorities said they have already localized the source.

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Hanoi regulates Covid-19 testing, monitoring, quarantine for returnees

Hanoi will only require testing for those who come from Covid-19-affected areas at level 4 (very high risk) and quarantine for people from the areas at level 3 (high risk), according to the city's Department of Health. Those who arrive and/or return to the city will not be required to show SARS-CoV-2 test results.

Those who have been fully vaccinated or completely recovered from Covid-19 within six months by the time they return to Hanoi from the extremely high-risk or quarantine areas (level 4), will self-monitor their health at home for seven days and get tested once by the RT-PCR method on the first day in Hanoi.

Those who have received just one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine will self-quarantine at home for seven days, continue to self-monitor their health at home for the next seven days, follow the 5K measures and take two tests by RT-PCR method on the first and seventh days since arriving in the city. Those who are not yet vaccinated have to self-quarantine at home for 14 days from the date of arrival in Hanoi, continue to self-monitor their health for the next 14 days, and be tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR method three times on the 1st, 7th, and 14th days of arrival in Hanoi. These returnees are not required to be tested for the virus.

Medical self-quarantine will not be imposed on those returning from pandemic-hit areas at levels 2 and 1. All people have to make medical declarations and inform the local authorities. They have to immediately notify local health authorities if they have symptoms of cough, fever, sore throat, loss, or decrease in smell and taste. People passing through the city are not required to be tested but must follow the 5K measures and not stop in the city except for force majeure cases.

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Ho Chi Minh resumes on-site dining

HCMC allows restaurants and coffee shops to resume on-site dining after five months of restrictions. Alcohol can be served in two districts. All facilities must close before 9 pm and only serve 50 percent of their normal customer capacity, according to a decision issued Wednesday by deputy chairwoman Phan Thi Thang. Alcoholic beverages cannot be served, except at wedding halls and tourist facilities.

District 7 and Thu Duc City can serve alcohol in regular restaurants under a pilot scheme until Nov. 15. Authorities of the two districts will decide the areas for implementing the scheme. HCMC on Oct. 24 announced the Covid-19 risks level in 22 districts. Under a four-level ranking scheme, with Level 1 being the safest, there are nine districts under Level 1, 12 under Level 2, and one under Level 3.

HCMC has recorded over 428,000 Covid-19 cases since the end of April when the nation was hit by the fourth wave. Over 78 percent of the city’s population has been fully vaccinated.

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (October 27): HCMC Plans to Resume All Public Bus Routes About 75 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with nearly 22 million people getting their second shot.

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (October 26): HCM City Relaxes Further Restrictions More than 1.12 million vaccine doses were administered in Vietnam on October 24. The country has now inoculated more than 74 million doses of vaccine ...

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (October 25): Additional 4,045 Cases Recorded About 73 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 21 million people getting their second shot.