Vietnam News Today (August 30): Vietnam Wins Silver at Army Games 2021 Sea Cup
	Vietnam News Today (August 29): HCMC Shippers to Resume Operations in 8 High-risk Districts
	Vietnam News Today (August 28): Soldiers Will be Sent to Support Binh Duong with Covid Prevention

Photo: VOV

Covid-19 caseload hits new record high with 14,224 more cases detected

Vietnam has detected 14,224 new coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours, a record high figure, raising the national tally of infections to nearly 450,000, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in its 06.00pm coronavirus update.

As many as 7,504 cases were documented in the community through random testing or test screening. Five people tested positive upon arriving from overseas, while the rest were diagnosed in lockdown or quarantine areas.

Binh Duong, an industrial complex hub and a gateway to Ho Chi Minh City, led all cities and provinces in infection number, registering 6,050. HCM City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, confirmed 5,889 new cases.

Other southern localities that recorded large numbers of new infections include Long An with 524 cases, Dong Nai 491, Tien Giang 221, An Giang 90 and Kien Giang 73.

Khanh Hoa topped central localities, logging 126 cases, followed by Nghe An 68, Da Nang 54 and Thua Thien-Hue 40, cited VOV.

In the northern region, Hanoi capital uncovered 110 new cases, mostly in quarantine and lockdown areas. Elsewhere two cases each were reported in Son La, Hung Yen and Bac Ninh provinces.

Data from the MoH shows that the past 24 hours saw Vietnam record 1,467 more cases than the previous day, mainly in HCM City and Binh Duong.

Vietnam has confirmed 449,489 coronavirus cases since the start of the outbreak in January 2020, ranking 59th among 222 countries and territories in terms of the infection number.

Since the resurgence of the virus on April 27, 2021, as many as 445,291 people have tested positive, half of whom have fully recovered from the disease.

The MoH also announced on August 30 Vietnam has registered 315 deaths during the past 24 hours, raising the total number of Covid-19 fatalities to 11,064.

More than 19.7 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 2.5 million people getting their second shot.

Vietnam bolsters cooperation with partners in ASEAN Smart Cities Network

Vietnam will promote cooperation with partners in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) while working with relevant agencies and localities to increase development chances, especially technological application in the Covid-19 fight, the Ministry of Construction said at the fourth annual meeting of the ASCN which was held in the form of videoconference on August 30.

The meeting, presided over by Brunei, the Chair of the ASCN in 2021, saw the participation of 26 member cities, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and partners. It discussed the preparation for the fifth annual meeting slated for November this year and activities in the coming time.

Vietnam will promote cooperation with partners in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) while working with relevant agencies and localities to increase development chances, especially technological application in the Covid-19 fight. Photo: WVR

Singapore was elected as the guiding country for the ASCN in the following two years and Cambodia was nominated as the Chair of ASCN for 2022.

The Ministry of Construction briefed participants on outstanding activities of the ASCN in 2020 when Vietnam assumed chairmanship of the network, including the third annual meeting, the ASEAN Smart Cities Summit and the second ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network High Level Meeting, all held in a virtual format, according to VNA.

Members of the network adopted three important documents that orient activities of smart cities development towards joint development and prosperity. Six external partners, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, the US and Norway, also put forth proposals on smart cities development.

The meeting also looked into the ideas on the development of an ASCN portal and an investment tool for smart and sustainable cities in ASEAN.

Of note, delegates shared information on smart cities development and experience in battling Covid-19 in each country.

The ASCN was established in April 2018 at the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore. It currently has 26 member cities from the 10 ASEAN members. Vietnam has three representatives in the network, which are Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Largest field hospital in Hanoi to be inaugurated on September 1

A large field hospital in Hanoi providing treatment for 500 Covid-19 patients in critical condition will be inaugurated on September 1 after one-month construction.

The hospital is located in Hoang Mai district and is run by the Hanoi Medical University Hospital.

The facility is designed to provide treatment for Covid-19 cases in Hanoi, along with other northern provinces such as Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, and Lang Son.

Largest field hospital in Hanoi to be inaugurated on Sept. 1. Photo: VOV

It will also perform the function as an intensive care unit to treat severely ill Covid-19 cases.

The construction of the site is part of wider efforts initiated by the Hanoi administration aimed at dealing with the latest rise in daily infection cases, reported VOV.

Work on the hospital initially began on July 30 and received financial support from many businesses, including Sun Group, the Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank), and Delta Company.

Hanoi has recorded nearly 100 new cases daily, raising its tally of infections to more than 3,000 since the resurgence of the virus on April 27.

HCMC shippers to get free Covid tests

HCMC would test its shippers for Covid-19 every day for free, the municipal trade department said Monday.

Le Huynh Minh Tu, deputy director of HCMC Department of Industry and Trade, said the city has prepared 414 mobile medical stations to test shippers in 21 districts and Thu Duc City.

On Sunday, the municipal People's Committee allowed shippers to operate in Thu Duc and seven districts considered high-risk areas, Districts 8, 12, Go Vap, Binh Tan, Binh Thanh and Hoc Mon, starting Monday. However, they must have received at least one shot of a Covid-19 vaccine and be quick-tested every afternoon.

Shippers listen to a health worker at a Covid-19 vaccination point in HCMC's District 11, August 2, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

In the other 14 districts, shippers who remain operational must also be tested every two days at mobile medical stations.

Shippers are still restricted to only one district per time, cited VnExpress.

HCMC, epicenter of Vietnam's fourth coronavirus wave, has recorded 209,921 local Covid-19 cases so far in the new outbreak.

The southern city has been put under a series of social distancing orders, with an ongoing lockdown since Aug. 23 that banned people from going out. Food, medications and other necessities are delivered to houses by local authorities instead.

However, sheer demand has presented a burden on local authorities, so the municipal trade department has proposed the People's Committee allow 25,000 shippers to deliver goods instead.

Vietnam wins two bronzes at Army Games

The engineer and meridian teams of Vietnam both finished third in the final rounds at the International Army Games in Russia on Sunday.

The engineer team pocketed the bronze medal during the "Safe Route" competition held at the Tyumen training ground in Russia.

For the final round, the team competed against Uzbekistan, Belarus, and hosts Russia.

Each team had to firstly navigate the assault course and clear mines before assembling a mechanized bridge from half a bridge kit, reconstructing a cross-country track with a road laying machine and open roads using combat mobility vehicles.

The Vietnamese engineers completed their performance in 55 minutes and 40 seconds while the Russia team arrived first in 42 minutes and 15 seconds, followed by Uzbekistan in 44 minutes and four seconds.

Members of the Vietnamese meridian team at the Army Games in Russia, August 29, 2021. Photo: People's Army newspaper

As for the Meridian competition that took place at Patriot Park in Moscow, Vietnam arrived third along with China. Russia and Belarus won first and second spots.

In this category, military topographic experts competed in shooting, compass navigation, geodesy, cartography and geographic information systems.

Also on Sunday, the Vietnamese tank crew competed in the Tank Biathlon category.

They could not make it through the qualification round and maintained ninth position out of 11 teams as of last year’s games, according to VnExpress.

2021 Army Games is being held from Aug. 22 to Sept. 4. A total of 260 teams from 45 countries and territories are participating in the event, competing in 34 categories.

Earlier Sunday, the Vietnamese combat ship team was ranked second in the Sea Cup contest when attending the games for the first time.

For this year, Vietnam sent 17 teams to compete in 15 events.

Vietnam News Today (August 27): HCM City Covid-19 Infection Rate Dropping Vietnam News Today (August 27): HCM City Covid-19 infection rate dropping; Soldiers go grocery shopping for residents of epicenter HCMC;

Vietnam News Today (August 26): Vietnam Promotes Multifaceted Cooperation with African Countries Vietnam News Today (August 26): Vietnam confirms 12,096 new Covid-19 cases; Vietnam promotes multifaceted cooperation with African countries;

Vietnam News Today (August 25): Military Forces Set Up Mobile Oxygen Production Stations in HCMC Vietnam News Today (August 25): AIPA-42: Vietnam steps up digital application in all areas; More than 10,800 Covid-19 cases were added on August 24; Military ...