A medical worker takes sample for Covid-19 testing. Photo: VNA

Covid-19: Daily caseload falls to 3,092, down by 469 cases

Vietnam recorded 3,092 cases of Covid-19 on October 14, including 4 imported, a drop of 370 cases compared to the previous day, according to the Ministry of Health.

HCM City still recorded the highest number of infections with 909, followed by neighboring Dong Nai province with 647 and Binh Duong province with 483.

In addition, the southern province of Soc Trang reported 1,059 more cases which were detected earlier but yet to be added to the national tally, bringing the tally to 853,842, cited VNA.

According to the Ministry of Health’s report, 4,427 patients nationwide are in serious conditions, with 588 requiring invasive ventilation and 21 on life support (ECMO).

On the day, the country saw 81 deaths from the pandemic. The death toll now hits 20,950.

A further 719 patients were given the all-clear, taking the total number of recoveries to 788,005.

By October 13, the country had injected over 57.45 million doses of vaccines to date, with more than 16.8 million people now fully inoculated.

Storm Kompasu weakens into tropical depression

Typhoon Kompasu, the eighth storm hitting the Bien Dong Sea so far this year, has weakened into a tropical depression, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

At 10 a.m. on October 14, the centre of what used to be the storm lay 154km from Thanh Hoa, 172km from Nghe An and 168km from Ha Tinh provinces with winds of 40-60km a hour.

In the next 12 hours, storm Kompasu will move westward at a speed of 20-25 km a hour. Photo:VNA

It will move westward at a speed of 20-25 km a hour but keep weakening before making landfall between the north central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. The strongest wind speed is expected to drop to below 40km per hour.

Due to the influence of cold wave in combination with the circulation of Storm Kompasu, the northern region and Quang Tri province are forecast to experience medium to heavy rain on October 14 and 15. The central region will face risk of flash floods and landslides in low-lying areas, VNA reported.

Strong winds are predicted in coastal areas from Quang Tri to Thua Thien-Hue provinces on October 14 and 15.

Vietnam approves Covid vaccination for 12-17 age group

The Ministry of Health approved Thursday the administration of Covid-19 vaccines for those aged 12-17, prioritizing those aged 16-17.

The Covid-19 vaccines administered have to be approved by the health ministry for the particular age group, in accordance with instructions from their manufacturers.

The vaccines have to be administered in two doses, with both being of the same vaccine. Parents or other legal guardians must sign their consent for the children's vaccination.

A person receives a Covid-19 vaccine shot in Hanoi, August 4, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

The ministry did not explicitly say which types of Covid-19 vaccine would be used for children aged 12-17. So far, only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this particular age range.

Localities can formulate plans and begin giving out first vaccine shots from later this month, once all conditions are met, the ministry said. Local health departments would cooperate with their education department peers to list all students from 6th to 12th grades, cited VnExpress.

The shots would be given at fixed vaccination points and mobile vaccination stations. In localities where students are allowed to study in-person, children can be vaccinated at their schools.

Vietnam has vaccinated around 39.8 million adults with at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot and 16.5 million have been fully vaccinated.

Children under 18 account for around 17 percent of all Covid-19 infections in Vietnam, according to data from the health ministry.

Localities ready to welcome back tourists in the new normal

A number of localities nationwide have announced plans to welcome back domestic travelers in November after months of suspending tourism services due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to resume tourism services by launching a tourism festival from November 27 to December 27 in an online format.

According to Phan Thi Thang, vice chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee, the city has thoroughly-prepared safety factors for the recovery process.

Ha Long Bay. Photo: lonelyplanet

about 72% of those employed in the tourism sector have now been fully vaccinated whilst medical infrastructure and plans for the recovery scenario moving forward are now ready, she revealed.

In late September HCM City launched a special tour for Covid-19 frontline workers to Can Gio and Cu Chi districts, both of which have brought the outbreak under control. Under the “bubble” model, visitors stopped at selected outdoor sites in a closed group, VOV reported.

Several other provinces are also following suit by launching tours in the bubble model.

The central city of Da Nang is planning to host public events from now until the end of the year in an effort to attract visitors. It will reopen travel services to local residents starting from October 20 and will begin to serve domestic tourists from Quang Nam and Quang Ninh provinces in the bubble model in November.

Da Nang is set to welcome the return of international visitors from the Republic of Korea and Russia through a vaccine passport scheme.

Elsewhere, the north central province of Thanh Hoa has set a target of welcoming 700,000 visitors during the last three months of the year.

Tourists arriving in Thanh Hoa must be fully vaccinated, with the second dose administered at least 14 days before arrival, or they must present a certificate showing they previously contracted and have now fully recovered from COVID-19.

Meanwhile, authorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay, plan to welcome back inter-provincial tourists to Tuan Chau International Tourist Area and the Yen Tu tourist site from next month.

The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang also created favorable conditions in which travel companies can implement safe package tours. They include five-days-four-nights tours including destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Ha Giang, Vi Xuyen, Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Lung Cu, and the Ma Pi Leng Pass.

Authorities in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, home to the resort town Da Lat, is considering permitting domestic tourists to visit Da Lat and Bao Loc from next month.

Along with vaccination requirements, visitors are also required to book a package tour with a designated travel agency whilst also having medical and travel insurance.

Authorities in the central province of Binh Dinh, home to the beach town of Quy Nhon, also plan to allow fully vaccinated domestic tourists to visit Phuong Mai Peninsula, which is famous for idyllic beaches and high-end resorts, from early November.

Spectators might return in Vietnam's next World Cup qualifying home games

Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has proposed to welcome fans into My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi when the team play Japan and Saudi Arabia in November.

VFF sent the proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Hanoi People’s Committee for approval, with the plan to organize the game with Japan on November 11 and Saudi Arabia on the 16th with spectators. VFF suggested that the number of spectators should take up 50 percent of My Dinh Stadium’s full capacity of 40,000 seats.

Vietnamese fans at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. Photo: VnExpress

The requirements to watch the games in the stadium are being fully vaccinated and having a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours.

Vietnam played their first home game of the final World Cup qualifying round on September 7, losing 0-1 to Australia. That game took place at My Dinh without spectators because the city was still in the social distancing period at the time.

Hanoi started relaxing restrictions in late September, and starting Thursday, allowed on-site dining and reopening of parks, hotels and public transportation, cited VnExpress.

Teams like Oman, Japan and Saudi Arabia have allowed spectators in their home games.

This is Vietnam’s very first time at the final round of World Cup qualifiers. The team are currently at the bottom of group B after losing the first four games.

Vietnam News Today (October 14): Hanoi Allows On-site Dining, Taxi Services Vietnam News Today (October 14): Hanoi allows on-site dining, taxi services; Nation to vaccinate 95% of children aged 12 to 17 against Covid-19 this year; ...

Vietnam News Today (October 13): Vietnam Among World's Top 30 October Destinations Vietnam News Today (October 13): Vietnam's daily Covid-19 tally lowest in three months; ITU Digital World 2021 kicks off in Vietnam on Oct. 12; Vietnam ...

Vietnam News Today (October 12): Hanoi Affirms Status as Nation’s Economic Locomotive Vietnam News Today (October 12): Vietnam records 3,617 new local Covid cases; Vietnam, Singapore step up co-operation in cybercrime combat; Vietnam to reattempt inter-provincial road ...