Covid-19 infections fall to 12-month low in Vietnam

Vietnam recorded just 533 fresh coronavirus infections on June 19, the lowest in the past 12 months, according to the Ministry of Health.

The June 19 figure saw a decrease of 166 cases compared to the previous day, with 434 cases documented in the community.

The fresh cases were mostly detected in the north, with Hanoi capital taking the lead as it registered 140 cases.

Except for Hanoi, none of other localities recorded more than 100 cases.

Ho Chi Minh City, the most populous locality in Vietnam, detected 24 cases, topping southern localities.

Apart from Ho Chi Minh City, three other southern localities - Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Ben Tre – recorded only one case each, cited VOV.

Photo: Truyen hinh phap luat

Vietnam has documented 10,737,640 million Covid-19 infections since the start of the first outbreak in January 2020, ranking 12th out of 227 counties and territories worldwide.

The fourth wave that started in summer 2021 was the hardest, with 10,729,874 cases logged nationwide.

Of the total, more than 9.6 million cases have recovered from the virus, according to data unveiled by the Ministry of Health.

To date, as many as 43,083 Covid-19 related deaths have been reported in Vietnam, making up 0.4% of the total number of infections and ranking 24th out of 227 countries and territories worldwide.

More than 225 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered nationwide.

Vietnamese, and Cambodian PMs highlight the importance of deepening bilateral ties

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 20 attended a ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of Cambodian PM Hun Sen’s journey to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime, held in Memot district of Cambodia’s Tbuong Khmum province.

On this day 45 years ago, after crossing the Cambodia - Vietnam border and arriving in Binh Phuoc, Hun Sen, who was then a lieutenant colonel and a regiment commander of Region 21 in eastern Cambodia, and his comrades decided to seek help from Vietnam to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime to regain peace for his homeland.

Thanks to the Vietnamese Party, State, and people’s assistance, they took gradual steps to set up the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation and, together with Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, completely defeated the genocidal regime on January 7, 1979, saving millions of Cambodians from the genocidal disaster.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Chinh said that the event is more significant in the context that the two countries are celebrating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties (June 24), and Cambodia successfully organising the commune/ward council elections for the fifth tenure on June 5.

Condemning the genocide caused to the Cambodian people as well as the brutal aggression crimes committed by the Pol Pot gang against the Vietnamese people, Chinh affirmed that Vietnam shared difficulties with and wholeheartedly helped Cambodia build up forces for its revolution; and supported and coordinated with the Cambodian uprising forces to fight the reactionary Pol Pot group.

He said that the celebration not only reminded of the start of the struggle for justice, but also was a vivid manifestation of the friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Vietnamese leader also took the occasion to thank Cambodia for its valuable support for Vietnam’s past struggle for national liberation and present national building and safeguarding cause, according to VNA.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and Cambodian PM Hun Sen (R). Photo: VNA

PM Hun Sen, for his part, stressed that the history proved that without the journey to overthrow the Pol Pot regime starting on June 20 and the subsequent events, Cambodia could not have had what it is having today.

He once again affirmed the soundness of Vietnam’s act, as Vietnamese volunteer soldiers joined hands with the Cambodian people in their struggle for national liberation, thus helping them get rid of the genocidal regime.

The two PMs expressed their delight at the fine development of the tradition friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, which has brought about substantive benefits for the two peoples and contributed to peace, stability and development in the region and the world over.

He affirmed the importance attached to the good neighborliness, time-honored friendship and all-round cooperation between the two countries.

On this occasion, the two leaders visited several works in Techo Koh Thmar X16 historic site in Memot district, and cut a ribbon to inaugurate the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship House there.

Earlier in the morning, PM Chinh welcomed his Cambodian counterpart in Binh Phuoc province.

Hot weather forecast to become more extreme in northern, central regions

While the northern and central regions are experiencing scorching heat, the forecasting centre said the heat may become more extreme in the time ahead.

Extreme temperature could be recorded in the northern region as well as northern and central parts of the central region in July. There is a 70 - 80 percent possibility that heat with the highest temperature of over 37 degrees Celsius will appear, said Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Mai Van Khiem.

However, heat waves in the regions are unlikely to be as severe or long as in 2021, he noted, adding that temperature in the north this July will approximate the average of the previous years, but be around 0.5 degree higher than average in August - September and 0.5 degree below average during October - December, reported NDO.

Motorcylists cover themselves with thick clothing to avoid the heat. Photo: VNA

The same forecast was issued for the central region.

Meanwhile, the temperature in the Central Highlands and southern regions will be about 0.5 degrees higher than average from July - to September and approximate the average in the last quarter of 2022.

The current hot weather continued in the northern region on June 19, when the highest temperature may reach 35 - 37 degrees Celsius, even over 37 degrees in some places. The temperature may hit 35 - 38 degrees, even over 38 degrees, in the central areas from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen provinces, the center predicted.

On June 20, the northern and central regions will experience temperatures of up to 36 - 38 degrees, even more than 38 degrees in some places. A temperature of over 35 degrees is likely to last for 12 - 17 hours.

Khiem said the heat wave will linger in the north until June 21 and gradually abate from June 22. In the central region, it will last until June 22 - 23 and then ease.

Ministry urges injection of 3rd Covid-19 vaccine shots for people aged 12-17

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has demanded units and localities nationwide to swiftly deploy the injection of the 3rd shots of Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 12-17.

In an official dispatch sent to the health departments of provinces and centrally-run cities across the country, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Pasteur Institutes on June 18, the ministry asked the health departments of localities give advice to the chairpersons of municipal and provincial People’s Committees on building plans and making necessary preparations for the vaccination rollout, cited VNA.

Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

The health departments of localities need to propose the amount of vaccines for this vaccination drive, the MoH said.

The Covid-19 vaccination for children is one of the important tasks of the health sector in 2022.

RoK launches programs to attract Vietnamese travelers

The Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam has prepared a range of exciting promotions aimed at drawing Vietnamese tourists to the Republic of Korea (RoK) after the re-issuance of the C-3 short-term visa for international travelers from June 1.

Visitors will receive discounts of between 5% and 10% for air tickets from Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. In addition, at Incheon International Airport between June 1 and July 24 passengers will receive special gifts and discounts on shopping and food.

To promote travel to the RoK, the KTO has created a website for tourists to stay updated on all necessary information, as well as a series of videos aimed at popularizing Korean tourism which have been launched on Tiktok this summer, VOV reported.

Vietnamese tourists visit the RoK before the Covid-19 outbreak. Photo: VOV

Furthermore, a cultural exchange program themed "Korea Days in Hanoi" slated for Hanoi this November will feature the participation of both Vietnamese and Korean artists, to commemorate 30 years of diplomacy between Vietnam and the RoK.

The RoK has also created a range of new tourist attractions to offer a fresh experience to travelers. Popular spots applying modern media art such as the Gwanghwa Sidae Exhibition Center, Gwanghwa-byeokhwa wall art, HYBE Insight museum in Seoul, and ARTE Gangneung museum in Gangwon has quickly become favorites with guests.

Lee Jae-hoon, chief representative the KTO in Vietnam, expected that more Vietnamese tourists would choose the RoK as their first destination to visit after the Covid-19 outbreak.

Visitors to the RoK must have a Covid-19 test before entry by PCR method within 48 hours, or a rapid test for RAT antigen within 24 hours. Following their entry, visitors are required to undergo a PCR test within the first three days, whilst they can do a quick self-test for RAT at their accommodation on the sixth or seventh days.

With the slogan "Travel to Korea Begins Again", the RoK is making every effort to create a safe travel environment for all visitors.

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