People scan the QR code for health declaration to visit the Nguyen Hue flower street in HCMC, January 29, 2022. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam records 11,586 new local Covid cases

Vietnam on Friday recorded 11,586 new local Covid-19 cases in 59 out of 63 cities and provinces.

The three localities with the highest number of cases are Hanoi with 2,756 cases, Da Nang with 1,544 cases and northern Nam Dinh Province with 620 cases.

Also Friday, the Health Ministry announced another 84 deaths due to Covid-19, including five in HCMC and two in Da Nang.

The total number of deaths so far is 38,150 cases, or around 1.7 percent of all infections.

The country now has 152,623 active patients, and 2,213 of them are severe, cited VnExpress.

Of its 96-million population, 74.1 million have received two vaccine shots and 28.3 million have received three.

Vietnam has recorded 192 infections with the Omicron variant, six of them community cases in Hanoi and HCMC linked to foreign entrants.

Three Vietnamese women claim Asia Innovation Awards

Three female Vietnamese scientists have been honored at the Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Awards.

The local scientists were presented with the Best Innovation Award, the Outstanding Innovation Award, and the Encouragement Award.

The Best Innovation Award went to Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Phuong of Vietnam’s Institute of Chemical Technology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. She was recognized for her “A Novel Biosensing System for Rapid Estimation of BOD5 and Sensitive Detection of Toxicity in Water (BODTOX)” project.

Unlike costly commercial biosensors, BODTOX is based on a packed-bed bioreactor that can easily be self-built from either a variety of cheap materials such as biochip, porous ceramic, or pumice stone. It then uses the natural bacteria consortium presented in the target wastewater, or sodium alginate capsules from the commercial microorganisms for specific purposes.

Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Phuong wins Best Innovation Award.

Elsewhere, the Outstanding Innovation Award was given to Professor Le Minh Thang of the Department of Organic and Petrochemical Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST). She won the honor due to her "Catalysts from transition metal oxides and technologies for the treatment of exhaust gases and wastewater to protect the life on land and below water" project.

Meanwhile, Dang Thi Tuyet Ngan grabbed the Encouragement Award for her project “ESMS – the smart solution to recover valuable metals (Indium, Cobalt, Europium) from difficult treated wastewater as well as e-waste forward to a circular economy in Vietnam”.

Originally launched in 2020, the Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award aims to promote science, technology, and innovation which contributes to solving social issues and realizing a sustainable society in the ASEAN region, according to VOV.

The awards serve to recognize individuals and groups that have undeniably served public interests through their outstanding achievements in research and development (R&D) in the fields of science and technology. This includes their visions of an ideal future society and social implementation plans for R&D as a means of achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Students to return to school after Tet

Students across the country will return to school after Tet except for primary school and kindergarten children in Hanoi and two southern provinces, though there too they will do so this month.

The Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said authorities in the capital and Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces would consult parents before setting a date for the reopening.

A mock classroom at the Giang Vo Secondary School in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District, January 22, 2022. Photo: VnExpress

It has also instructed local authorities to ensure students catch up with their lessons, admitting this could take several years.

Son said schools should identify students' mental issues to provide counseling and psychological support when they return to school.

All middle and high schools across the country will open from Feb 7 or 14, reported VnExpress.

Before Tet only 14 localities had reopened schools, 19 had online and televised lessons, while the remaining 30 had a mix of both.

Son said all universities and colleges too would have students returning to classes this month.

The nine-day Tet holiday ends this Sunday (Feb 6).

Tan Son Nhat airport sees record of passengers on Feb. 4

The number of passengers through Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City rose to a record of 97,700 on February 4, according to the Southern Airports Authority.

As many as 704 flights were expected to land at or take off from the airport on February 4 in comparison to 528 with 83,800 passengers recorded on the previous day.

Passengers line up at the check-in counter of Bamboo Airways. Photo: VNA

The sudden increase in the number of passengers has caused a serious shortage of taxis since late February 3.

To solve the problem, the Southern Airports Authority has worked with the city’s Department of Transport, the Taxi Association and relevant units at the Tan Son Nhat airport to arrange vehicles for them as soon as possible and prevent congestion, cited VNA.

The Southern Airports Authority has advised passengers to travel by their own cars or order a taxi in advance to avoid waiting for a long time.

Vietnam wishes 2022 Olympic, Paralympic Winter Games a great success

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a letter of congratulations to Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jiping on China’s hosting the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing.

In his latter, Phuc recalled that China successfully organized the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, and expected it will reap another success again by playing to the 2022 winter games this time, VOV reported.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam. Photo: VOV

“We believe that the Olympic torch lit in the sky above the Beijing National Stadium will be a symbol of the noble spirit of sports that transcends all borders, of the will and united strength of mankind, and of a burning belief in a peaceful, prosperous world,” he wrote.

“As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic cooperation partner of China, the State and people of Vietnam support and firmly believe that, with their capacity, experience and strong determination, as well as support of people at home and abroad, China will successfully host the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”

Marking the traditional lunar New Year holiday this year – the Year of the Tiger, President Phuc wished President Xi and Chinese people good health, happiness and prosperity.

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