Vietnam News Today (July 14): Phu Quoc to welcome 40,000 foreign tourists under pilot scheme
	Vietnam News Today (July 13): Hanoi Shuts Down Indoor Restaurants, Cafes, Barbershops Again
	Vietnam News Today (July 12): Covid-19: New Record Set Again As Daily Rise in Infections Close to 2,000

A medical staff instructs a person to test for Covid-19 in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh city on June 23, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam reverts to 14-day quarantine for entrants

Health authorities have lowered the quarantine period for arrivals from the current 21 days to 14 days after consulting with international organizations.

The lowered period also applies to people who have to isolate themselves at home after coming into direct contact with Covid-19 patients.

The Ministry of Health said it made the decision based on recommendations of the World Health Organization and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cited VnExpress.

The ministry also reduced the time of Covid-19 patients being treated in hospitals if they show no symptoms.

After a study of around 20,000 patients showed that nearly 70 percent did not have symptoms, asymptomatic patients will be tested on the ninth and 10th day of hospitalization. If they test negative or test positive with a low cycle threshold (CT) of 30 or higher, they can be discharged and isolate themselves at home for 14 days.

In cases detected among the public, if the person tests positive but with CT of 30 or higher, he/she will be sent to a medical facility to be tested for the second time in 24 hours, and if the results are the same, they will be discharged and should isolate themselves at home for 14 days.

Vietnam had increased the quarantine period to 21 days on May 5 as a strengthened safety precaution following a spike in Covid-19 infections

Vietnam has recorded over 33,000 local Covid-19 cases in the latest Covid-19 wave which began April 27.

HCM city authorities refute rumours of imminent complete lockdown

Ho Chi Minh city’s authorities officially refuted rumours on July 14 that a complete citywide lockdown would be imposed.

The rumours spread on social media, along with calls for local residents to start stockpiling food and supplies. Food scarcity and shortages were also rumoured to be imminent as well as complete ban on shopping starting July 15, 2021. Several posts also alleged that city leaders had contracted Covid-19.

Shoppers lined up outside a supermarket in Binh Thanh district, HCM city, on July 14. Photo: VNA

The rumours drove many to rush to supermarkets and convenience stores to buy supplies, making it difficult to enforce anti-pandemic measures, including keeping two meters apart.

The municipal Party Committee’s Board for Information and Education said the city is implementing the Government’s Directive 16, which requires it to impose stringent social distancing measures, however the rumours were false, according to VNA.

The commission asked local residents to stay calm and check for updates on the outbreak from official, credible news sources. It reminded residents not to spread fake news.

The city’s authorities will work to strictly handle those who spread false information, causing confusion among the community, it said.

They also assured residents that they were making every effort to control and prevent the further spread of the pandemic while also ensuring public security and the supply of food and essential goods to the people.

HCM city is now the biggest hotspot of Covid-19 in the country with more than 18,000 local cases since the fourth coronavirus wave hit Vietnam in late April.

Over 1,000 cases a day have been recorded for the last several days.

Vietnam keeps home advantage in final World Cup qualifying round

Vietnam's home games in the final World Cup qualifying round will take place in their home stadium as the country has accepted to exempt guest teams from quarantine.

In a conference on Wednesday with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), ministries and departments have approved VFF's request to exempt quarantine for the away teams when they come to Vietnam. The teams will have to guarantee that they have been vaccinated for Covid-19 twice and test negative for the virus before entering Vietnam, reported VnExpress.

Vietnam players (in red) celebrate in the 2-1 World Cup qualifiers victory over Malaysia on June 11, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

VFF will also coordinate with Hanoi authorities to ensure safety and Covid-19 prevention. The members of Vietnam and the away teams, as well as the organizers, will stay in one hotel with strict measures. No one is allowed to get out of the hotel, with the exception of going to the training ground or the competition venue, in order to limit the chance of transmission.

This method was successfully applied by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in the second qualifying round of World Cup last month in the UAE, where Vietnam played the remaining matches of group G with UAE, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Previously, with the country’s strict measure to quarantine all international entries in 21 days, Vietnam almost have to play their home games in centralized venues because AFC regulated that if any team wish to play their matches on home ground, they have to guarantee the away team won’t have to enter quarantine on arrival. AFC said a long period of quarantine could affect player form as well as the performance of away teams.

VFF had already considered different options for the centralized venue like Thailand or UAE, where doesn’t require long-period quarantine for international visitors.

Playing on the home ground, My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, will give Vietnam advantages of the weather, fans and mentality.

This is the first time Vietnam play in the final round of World Cup qualifiers. The team are in group B with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Oman.

13,000 shots of Nano Covax vaccine administered to volunteers in third trial phase

As many as 13,000 shots of homegrown Nano Covax vaccine were administered to volunteers aged 18-75 in the third trial phase as of July 14.

Prof. Dr. Maj. Gen. Hoang Van Luong, Deputy Director of the Defence Ministry’s Military Medical University, said after being injected, the volunteers are in stable conditions. Medical workers have asked them to update information about side effects if any on the e-Diary, reported VNA.

Photo: VNA

Units are also preparing for injecting the second shots to 1,000 volunteers in the first round of the third trial phase.

The second shots in the third phase are due to be administered to the volunteers before August 15.

Nano Covax is developed by the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC based on recombinant DNA/protein technology. It went through the first-phase trial from December 18, 2020 and the second phase from February 26, 2021. The third phase started on June 11, 2021.

Results from the first two trial phases showed that all volunteers developed antibodies against coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Phu Quoc, Khanh Hoa prepared to welcome back international tourists

The resort island of Phu Quoc in the southern province of Kien Giang is planning to vaccinate its residents and tourism workers against Covid-19 in preparation for launching its pilot policy aimed at welcoming back international tourists in the future.

According to Kien Giang People's Committee, there are approximately 127,607 people who will be vaccinated in the island city of Phu Quoc. Of the figure, 60,000 people who are officials and employees working in the hospitality sector, especially at tourist resorts and amusement parks, will be selected during the pilot vaccination scheme, cited VOV.

Ong Lang beach in Phu Quoc. Photo: VOV

These individuals will receive their first shot from July 15 and their second injection from September 1, with the Covid-19 vaccines being allocated by the Ministry of Health and other legal sources.

This comes after the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had previously proposed that Phu Quoc pilot receiving international visitors from October, with between 25 and 40 flights being conducted per month.

A representative of Sunset Beach Resort in Phu Quoc also revealed that the company has registered to vaccinate more than 100 officers and employees, while simultaneously preparing infrastructure in order to welcome the return of foreign tourists

Furthermore, the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee also announced that it adopted a pilot scheme aimed at welcoming international tourists who have valid vaccine passports via charter flights.

It is hoped that these positive signs will help the tourism industry rebound after a long period of being heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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