Vietnam News Today (August 1): HCM City Coronavirus Tally in New Wave Tops 90,000
	Vietnam News Today (July 31): Hanoi Asked to Work Out Home Isolation Plan for Covid-19 F1 Cases
	Vietnam News Today (July 30): Ho Chi Minh City to Vaccinate People After 6 p.m.

Dinh Tien Hoang Street around iconic Hoan Kiem Lake is left deserted, July 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam's Covid-19 infection tally crosses 150,000

Health authorities confirmed 4,225 new cases in 35 localities on Sunday night, pushing the country's tally to 150,423 after the new wave began late April.

HCMC accounted for most of the new cases with 2,025, followed by Binh Duong with 764 and Khanh Hoa with 298.

Hanoi recorded 14 new cases, raising its daily tally to 81.

On Sunday, Vietnam recorded 8,597 new infections, the fourth highest day since the pandemic broke out in Vietnam. Of them, 6,590 were in quarantine zones and areas under lockdown and 2,007 were detected in the community, cited VnExpress.

4,423 Covid patients were declared free of coronavirus on Sunday, raising the country's total recoveries to 43,157.

More than three months into the new wave, Vietnam has recorded community infections in 62 of its 63 cities and provinces.

HCMC is the epicenter of the latest wave with 94,295 cases.

Vietnam has administered more than 6.2 million Covid-19 vaccine shots, fully vaccinating 620,611 people with two shots.

One million Sinopharm vaccine doses arrive in HCM city

One million doses of Vero Cell vaccine arrived in Ho Chi Minh city on July 31 as part of a deal to import five million doses of the vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.

The Health Ministry said that this was the first batch out of the five million doses of Vero Cell that Saigon Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Sapharco) had negotiated with partner Sinopharm under the authority of the municipal People's Committee.

The vaccine, called Vero Cell, is produced by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co. Ltd of Sinopharm Group. Photo: Yicai Global

The vaccine, called Vero Cell, is produced by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co. Ltd of Sinopharm Group, and was adopted by the Ministry of Health for emergency use on June 4.

As of July 31, the city has been provided with 3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, estimated at 22.3% of the vaccination demand for people aged 18 and above, reaching the highest allocation rate in the country so far, according to the Ministry of Health, reported VOV.

Around 1.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in HCM city so far, with 1.3 million people receiving one dose, and 75,000 getting full two shots.

The southern city has logged more than 88,500 local Covid-19 cases in the latest pandemic wave that hit Vietnam in late April, with death toll standing at about 815, the highest among 62 pandemic-hit localities nationwide.

HCM city extends social distancing for 2 more weeks

Ho Chi Minh city continues imposing city-wide social distancing measures under the Prime Minister’s Directive 16 for an additional 14 days from 0:00 on August 2.

The decision was made by Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong on August 1.

Empty street in Ho Chi Minh city. Photo: VNA

Phong asked the heads of departments and branches, the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of Thu Duc city and districts and local businesses to direct the stronger, more drastic and effective implementation of prevention and control measures, step up dissemination and ask locals not to leave their places of residence for another locality until the end of social distancing.

He requested departments, sectors and localities to conduct quicker Covid-19 vaccination and ensure the supply of food and food stuffs for poor labourers and those in sealed-off areas as well as the provision of protective equipment for medical staff as guided by the Health Ministry.

Ho Chi Minh city has experienced 63 days of social distancing at different levels. From 7pm on July 31 to 6am on August 1, the city documented additional 2,027 Covid-19 infections, according to VNA.

Since the beginning of the fourth wave in late April, the city has logged 92,200 cases.

Another Covid-19 treatment hospital sets off to support southern localities

The General Department of Logistics under the Ministry of Defence held a ceremony in Hanoi on August 1 to set off medical staff of the Covid-19 treatment hospital 5D to support Ho Chi Minh city and Binh Duong province where the pandemic continues developing unpredictably.

The 500-bed hospital has 130 personnel and is installed at the hostel of the Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh city in Di An city of Binh Duong province.

Leading officers of General Department of Logistics encourage female soldiers. Photo: qdnd.vn

It is designed to receive and treat Covid-19 patients in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong.

Speaking at the ceremony, Major General Nguyen Hung Thang, Deputy Chairman and Chief of the Staff of the General Department of Logistics appreciated the hospital’s staff and soldiers for their active preparation to set off as planned with high determination and readiness to receive and complete their assigned tasks, cited VNA.

The General Department of Logistics has so far set up two Covid-19 treatment hospitals, with the first one in Nha Trang city of the central province of Khanh Hoa.

Central Vietnam mangrove restoration project wins 2021 Risk Award

A mangrove restoration project that also builds resilience of a disaster-prone coastal community in Thua Thien-Hue Province has won the 100,000 euros (US$118,000) 2021 Risk Award.

The project, "Strong roots, strong women: empowering women for community and coastal ecosystem resilience in central Vietnam," is co-managed by the Center for Social Research and Development based in the central province and the University of Potsdam in Germany.

It has planted more than 12,000 mangrove seedlings in the highly flood prone Tam Giang Lagoon, the largest in Southeast Asia; and empowered local women in disaster risk management. It also supports livelihoods for poor and vulnerable groups directly dependent on natural resources.

Ru Cha mangrove forest near Tam Giang Lagoon in Thua Thien-Hue province. Photo: VnExpress

Dr. Philip Bubeck, who represents the University of Potsdam on the implementation team, said: "Vietnam is suffering disproportionately from climate-related impacts and mangrove restoration is a very practical way of reducing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion while also supporting local livelihoods. Mangroves can reduce wave and tidal energy by up to 50 percent."

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori, said the project was a great example of how international cooperation can assist developing countries reduce disaster risks, cited VnExpress.

The Risk Award is given to operational projects in the field of risk reduction and disaster management by the Munich Re Foundation, a charity organization based in Germany, which has been handling global risks since 1880.

Initiated by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the award is dedicated to the nature-based disaster risk reduction solutions that also highlight the importance of social and economic stability. The prize is awarded every two years.

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