A sixth grader gets vaccinated against COVID-19 in Phu Yen province. Photo: VNA

Vietnam logs 8,813 new Covid-19 cases on April 24

Vietnam on April 24 recorded an additional 8,813 new Covid-19 infections, including one imported case, the Ministry of Health announced.

The capital city of Hanoi continued to log the highest number of infections, with 970 cases.

It was followed by northern Bac Giang, Phu Tho and Quang Ninh provinces, which reported 540, 511 and 495 cases, respectively, cited VNA.

The new infections brought the country’s total caseload since the pandemic broke out to 10,563,502.

The same day, 4,581 patients were declared to fully recover from the disease, lifting the total number of recoveries to 9,086,075.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 43,013 after nine fatalities were announced on April 24.

The country has so far administered more than 212.39 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

First heat wave to bake northern, central Vietnam next week

The northern and central regions of Vietnam are expected to endure the first heat wave of this summer next week, with daytime temperatures to hit a record high of 39°C in some areas, according to national weather forecasters.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) reported a cold air has weakened for the past few days, paving the way for a western low pressure area to develop and expand to the east.

The hot air is anticipated to affect the western region on April 25 before moving to the east and intensifying in the central region, with records falling in the western part of north and north-central areas.

Daytime temperatures are forecast to rice to 35-37°C or even 39°C in some areas when the first heat wave hits northern and central Vietnam next week. Photo: VOV

Daytime temperatures in the western part of the northern region will rise quickly, ranging from 35 - 37°C.

The intense heat is expected to build up in the coming days, prompting the NCHMF to issue excessive heat watches and warnings throughout mountainous areas of the north-central region as daytime temperatures are set to go up to 39°C and beyond, according to VOV.

In Hanoi capital, the hot pattern will cause daytime temperatures to rise to 35-36°C and humidity to fall to 50-60%. The time when the temperature is above 35°C will last for 13 to 16 hours.

This is the first heat wave of this summer and is expected to last for several days.

Vietnam eyes transition to green production for sustainable value

Economic sectors, localities and businesses should be considered the drivers of the nation's green growth and sustainable development strategy, experts have said.

According to Phan Xuan Dung, President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, foreign-invested enterprises and multinational corporations can lead the trend of green transformation, thus helping Vietnam integrate with the global market.

Taking advantage of support from the FDI business community is extremely important for Vietnam in the context of limited domestic resources, and the digital and green transformation in Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises still remains slow, Dung said.

He added that the support from international partners and the pioneering of FDI enterprises in the trend of green transformation will contribute to helping Vietnamese businesses and localities speed up green transformation towards realizing sustainable development goals, reported NDO.

Vietnam’s economy is set to develop quickly, sustainably and harmoniously between economy, culture, society, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change in the next 10 years.

Photo: khoinghiepxanh.vn

Last year, the Prime Minister approved a national strategy on green growth for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which aims to help promote economic restructuring in tandem with a growth model reform, and achieve economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability, and social equality.

Vietnam strongly committed to net zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). In addition, the Government’s Socio-Economic Development and Recovery Program promulgated on January 30, 2022 also demonstrates the determination to develop a "green and circular economy associated with sustainable development".

Experts said to realize these goals, it is necessary to make three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, human resources and infrastructure, focusing on innovation and science and technology development.

With the above bases, Vietnam will effectively use resources, strengthen its management and coordination capabilities in finance and technology, and promote the participation of the community, businesses and international organizations in realizing its sustainable development goals, said experts.

Science and technology will be an effective lever for a green transition in Vietnam and the world, they noted.

Accordingly, this is the time to converge necessary and urgent factors for Vietnam, as well as localities and businesses to make breakthroughs in thinking and strong actions to promote green transformation towards achieving sustainable values, they stressed.

According to Bruce Delteil from McKinsey & Company, decarbonization is a priority for Vietnam, because climate change has been affecting the country's socio-economic development.

Vietnam has a roadmap towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 through an interdisciplinary effort with the involvement of the whole society.

Sharing Delteil’s opinion, Alain Cany, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) in Vietnam, said that the nation needs to find ways to promote efficient and economical use of energy, and convert waste into energy.

Over 374,200 doses of Covid-19 vaccines administered to children from 5 to under 12 years old

As of April 23 afternoon, 374,255 doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered to children from 5 to under 12 years old in 41 out of the 63 provinces and cities nationwide, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The vaccination campaign for this age group started in northern Quang Ninh province on April 14.

In Vietnam, there are more than 11.8 million children from 5 to below 12 years old. About 3.6 million of them are subject to a three-month delay of vaccination after contracting Covid-19, and they will get the first shot in July or August, cited VNA.

Meanwhile, the 8.2 million remainders began receiving inoculation on April 14, and they will receive the second dose in the second quarter, the MoH’s Department of Preventive Medicine reported, noting that Covid-19 vaccination for children is one of the important tasks of the health sector in 2022.

A student is vaccinated against Covid-19. Photo: VNA

The country had received 4.6 million Covid-19 vaccine doses donated by Australia for child vaccination. Over 2.3 million doses have been allocated so far.

The Netherlands has also committed to provide 2 million doses of Moderna vaccine while France will donate 2 million doses of Pfizer vaccine for children. These vaccines are scheduled to arrive in Vietnam in April.

Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2022 promote reading culture

Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2022 themed “Helping culture prevails and developing reading culture” aims to encourage and boost community reading movements.

Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day has been launched in April this year for the first time to honor readers, writers, publishers, libraries, book collectors as well as organizations and individuals who have greatly contributed to developing community reading culture.

Ho Chi Minh City responded to this event by launching a book fair on Nguyen Hue street. This is the first time a national book and reading event has been held in HCM City with the participation of more than 20 publishing houses.

Thousands of books are on display in 3 areas, including digital transformation, book city, and introduction of reading cultural models.

Photo: VOV

In Hanoi, there are events displaying and introducing books, workshops, and exchanges between writers and readers.

“We have organized many activities in various forms both online and offline. The most notable is the online drawing contest for schools in Hanoi. We have also held an exchange week between readers, writers, poets, and politicians. We hope to further promote reading culture in the community, especially among children and teenagers,” said Kieu Thuy Nga, Director of the National Library of Vietnam, and Head of the Organizing Board of the Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2022 in Hanoi.

“I’m so excited about this event as I have the chance to learn more about my favorite books and exchange with teachers and friends. I think Book Day helps encourage us to read more,” said Vu Thu Ngan, a student from Viet Duc High School in Hanoi, who attended Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day at the National Library of Vietnam.

“Book Day is meaningful to young people. As a teacher of literature, I always encourage my students to read. At this event, young people participate in activities to experience the reading culture,” said Nguyen Nguyet Nga, a literature teacher from Viet Duc High School.

The 2022 National Online Book Fair is opening at book365.vn. Under the theme “Lighting the of knowledge”, the fair involves nearly 100 publishers nationwide, introducing more than 40,000 books, VOV reported.

The Online Book Fair is expected to attract 10 million views and sells 30,000 books. Reading Culture Ambassador Contests are also being held in many localities nationwide.

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