Vietnam News Today (July 26): HCM City to Ban People From Going Out at Night
	Vietnam News Today (July 25): Vietnam's Daily Covid-19 Infections Hit New Record of 9,225
	Vietnam News Today (July 24): Vietnam Daily Covid Cases Reach Record High 7,295

A man receives a Covid-19 vaccine shot at a hospital in Thu Duc City, July 22, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam’s new wave Covid tally crosses 100,000

The Ministry of Health confirmed 5,155 new Covid-19 patients Monday evening, raising the tally in the new wave to 102,525.

Ho Chi Minh city, the epicenter of the ongoing fourth coronavirus wave, recorded 4,283 cases. It was followed by the southern provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai with 326 and 134 cases, respectively. The remaining cases were recorded in 23 other provinces and cities.

Among the night's tally, 380 were detected in the community.

With the latest additions, Vietnam recorded a total of 7,859 cases on Monday. Of which, 887 were detected in the community with unclear sources of transmission and the rest in quarantine facilities, or lockdown zones, cited VnExpress.

The health ministry also confirmed 2,006 discharges the same day, raising the number of recoveries since the pandemic began to 21,344.

Since the new Covid-19 wave emerged in Vietnam on April 27, 102,525 local infections have been recorded in 62 of its 63 cities and provinces.

More than 4.61 million of the nation's 96 million have been vaccinated against the new coronavirus but only 389,863 have gotten two doses.

14 coronavirus cases detected, Hanoi hospital in lockdown

The Hanoi-run Lung Hospital has been cordoned off for chemical disinfection and extensive testing after 14 people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Ten patients, three healthcare workers and a caregiver were diagnosed with the virus, Dr Pham Huu Thuong, director of the hospital, told local media outlets on July 25 evening.

The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control reconfirmed nine cases, and are to announce the results of tests of the remaining five cases later, said Thuong.

Hanoi Lung Hospital has detected 14 positive coronavirus cases. Photo: VOV

The hospital suspended receiving visitors in the evening. Relevant forces were deployed to erect barriers in front of the entrance gate of the hospital.

Epidemiologists are planning to test nearly 400 people closely linked to the outbreak at the hospital.

One of the hospital’s patients, a woman who lives in Tay Ho district, was confirmed as a Covid-19 case on July 25, reported VOV.

The female patient had received treatment at the Department of Internal Medicine from July 6 – 22. She was in stable health condition when she was discharged from hospital on July 22.

However, the patient showed flu-like symptoms of a fever and a cough on July 25, and went to see a doctor at Phuong Dong Hospital where she tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Three months ago, two coronavirus outbreaks were recorded at the centrally-run K Cancer Hospital and National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, both located in Hanoi. Approximately 200 Covid-19 cases had been documented and closely linked to the outbreaks at the two healthcare facilities.

Vietnam reaches vaccine tech transfer agreements with three countries

The nation has signed three agreements for the transfer of Covid-19 vaccine production technology with Russia, the United States, and Japan, according to details provided by Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long.

Upon addressing the ongoing first session of the 15th legislature held on July 25, Minister Long stated that the country has reached a successful agreement regarding the transfer of technology for Covid-19 vaccines with the US, with production set to start next year, VOV reported.

Moving forward, a factory with a capacity to produce 200 million Covid-19 vaccine doses is currently under construction and will be put into operation in the first half of 2022, Minister Long said.

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long presents a report during the ongoing first session of the 15th legislature held on July 25. Photo: VOV

This comes following the Hanoi-based Vabiotech company packaging its first batch of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine last week. These initial batches will be evaluated in Russia before being put into mass production in the nation at a later date. The tech transfer for the vaccine will be completed by the end of this year, the Minister said.

Vietnam represents one of the first four countries in the world to successfully isolate and culture the virus, thereby paving the way for vaccine research. It is also the first country in Southeast Asia to conduct phase three clinical trials on Covid-19 vaccines.

By August, research teams will all have had their second jab of the vaccine and will therefore be able to carry out the registration process as prescribed.

The nation has now secured commitments and agreements for over 130 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from China, the US, Japan, Australia, the UK, and other nations. It is also in the process of negotiation with other manufacturers for an additional 40 million doses which will bring the total to 170 million doses by 2021.

To date, approximately 4.5 million does have been administered, but only around 372,353 people having received the full two shots of the vaccine.

Vietnam-Laos trade records growth in first half of 2021

Bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Laos reached over US$671 million during the first half of this year, representing a rise of 36.5% compared to the same period from last year.

Vietnamese exports to neighbouring country hit over US$329 million, up 19.1%, whilst its imports stood at over US$341 million, up 58.9%.

June alone saw trade turnover between both sides reach more than US$100 million, a year-on-year rise of 22.1% and up 18.1% from the same period from 2019, the period before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.

Major Vietnamese exports included machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts, petroleum and oil, means of transportation, along with garments and textiles, while its import staples were timber and wooden products, ores, minerals, and rubber, cited VOV.

Moving forward, July’s trade turnover is anticipated to slow down due to the complicated developments relating to the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam.

Hoi An locks down after finding Covid clusters

Authorities in central Quang Nam province have imposed social distancing measures in Hoi An after new Covid-19 clusters were found in the town.

Directive 16 has been implemented in Tan An and Thanh Ha wards, where they were found, and it requires people to stay at home except to buy food or medicines and for emergencies, Lao Dong newspaper reported.

Tan Hiep commune, home to popular tourist destination Cham Islands, is under Directive 19, which prohibits gatherings of more than 20 people except in offices, schools and hospitals and requires people to maintain a distance of at least one meter.

Other areas in the town are under Directive 15, which bans social events, gatherings of 20 people or more and 10 if outside of workplaces, schools and hospitals.

An empty street in Hoi An ancient town, July 2020. Photo: VnExpress

Locals are banned from leaving town until further notice.

Last Saturday a café owner living in Tan An ward was found infected with Covid along with three others who had been in close contact with him.

A man in Thanh Ha Ward also tested positive.

During the ongoing fourth wave of the coronavirus that began on April 27, Quang Nam has recorded 40 infections.

In May, Quang Nam province reopened public beaches and Hoi An, a tourism hotspot, allowed tourists back in.

In three months the country has had 97,370 cases in 62 of its 63 cities and provinces.

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