Vietnam News Today (September 4): Strict Lockdown Continues in 10 Hanoi Districts
	Vietnam News Today (September 3): Hanoi to Extend Strict Social Distancing in Covid-19 High Risk Areas
	Vietnam News Today (September 2): Tourism Advisory Council Proposes Digital Pass to Revive Domestic Travel

A health worker takes samples for Covid-19 testing. Photo: VNA

Vietnam sees drop of 5,373 Covid-19 cases on September 4

Vietnam recorded 9,521 domestic Covid-19 cases on September 4, down 5,373 infections against the previous day, according to the Ministry of Health.

Ho Chi Minh City remained the largest hotspot with 4,104 cases, followed by Binh Duong province with 2,485, Dong Nai 992, Long An 544, Tien Giang 148, Tay Ninh 137, Kien Giang 125, Dong Thap 120, and Quang Binh 110. The capital city of Hanoi logged 52 cases.

The new cases brought the national tally since Covid-19 broke out in Vietnam to 511,170, cited VNA.

On the day, 11,848 patients have recovered from Covid-19, raising the total number of recoveries to 282,516.

As many as 347 fatalities were recorded on September 4, bringing the death toll to 12,793.

The country has to date administered over 21 million doses of vaccines, with more than 3 million people having been fully vaccinated.

Hanoi deploys new Covid-19 checkpoints in high-risk areas

Hanoi has erected Covid-19 checkpoints across the capital starting Saturday morning to manage traffic flow in and out of high-risk areas.

At 6:30 a.m., a Covid-19 checkpoint on Nguyen Van Cu Street divided the road into two lanes, one for motorbikes and the other for cars. Anyone passing through the checkpoint was required to show travel documents and have their body temperatures checked.

To prevent congestion, procedures were streamlined and officers spaced apart from each other, reported VnExpress.

Starting Saturday, Hanoi has deployed 39 checkpoints in high-risk areas across the capital, located in 15 districts: Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Cau Giay, Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan, Ha Dong, Hoang Mai, Thanh Tri, Nam Tu Liem, Bac Tu Liem, Hoai Duc, Thanh Oai and Thuong Tin.

Photo: VnExpress

Drivers were requested to stop at checkpoints to medically declare themselves, show travel documents and have their body temperatures checked.

Authorities could perform quick Covid-19 tests if needed.

Tran Quang Ninh, deputy head of the traffic police division No. 6 under the Hanoi Traffic Police Department, said checkpoints mainly served to remind people of new rules on the first day.

Checkpoints would function 24/7, with shifts changed every six hours.

Among the 39 checkpoints, 21 were deployed by the police in areas with high traffic density, which employ 16 officers. The rest of the checkpoints were managed by local authorities and had four to nine officers.

Vietnam, Russia ready to enhance defence links

Vietnamese and Russian leaders have always stayed ready to expand bilateral defence ties and military-technical cooperation, according to Defence Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang.

At a reception on September 4 for Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Aleksei Iurievich, Giang highlighted the two countries’ traditional friendship, and affirmed the nation’s recognition of importance to development of its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia as a priority in its external policy.

Defence Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang (R) hosts Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Aleksei Iurievich. Photo: qdnd.vn

Since the resurgence of the pandemic, Vietnamese and Russian defence ministries have offered mutual support in prevention and control work in their respective nation, VOV reported.

Giang expressed his appreciation for Russia’s donation of its Sputnik V vaccine for Vietnam in the past time and its commitment to further donating 20 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine this year, the minister hoped more vaccine supply will come particularly amid the current complicated pandemic.

In response, Aleksei Yurievich, who is in Vietnam to attend the closing ceremony of the International Army Games 2021’s “Sniper Frontier” and “Emergency Area” competitions hosted by Vietnam, congratulated Vietnam on successfully hosting the two competitions and showed his wish for the Southeast Asian nation's further support for the Army Games next year.

HCMC to launch mental health care program amid lockdown

A mental health care program would be launched in HCMC amid worrying impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, both physically and psychologically.

The "vaccine for the mind" program, to be launched Sunday, is expected to last until the end of 2022, though it could be longer depending on how the pandemic progresses, Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, headmistress of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, said Friday.

The program would entail three goals: improving overall mental health, mental health counseling and therapy, and post-Covid rehabilitation, she added.

Streets in HCMC are nearly devoid of traffic amid Covid-19 social distancing orders, August 23, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

"The school wants to collaborate with the city to push back on Covid-19, reassuring people's mind," she said.

To improve mental health, the program would provide counseling for people who have signs of anxiety, stress and other psychological distresses, but do not yet show pathological symptoms. It could be provided through online conferences, radio sessions or directly offered through hotlines.

The program is also expected to help 15-20 percent of people with anxiety, depression, trauma regarding Covid-19 and suicidal thoughts. It would collaborate with the municipal Department of Health and hospitals to provide counseling for patients treated in such locations, reported VnExpress.

To rehabilitate people toward a post-Covid life, the program would help them find resources to help themselves through information about jobs, self-development and learning, along with other governmental assistance programs.

Amid Covid-19 worries and extended lockdown orders, mental health issues have been reported to be on the rise across the globe, which include depression, stress, anxiety and even suicidal tendencies.

An August report by the Psychology Department of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities said people have been experiencing signs of anxiety, stress, boredom, mood swings and insomnia, among others, amid social distancing orders.

Vietnamese tourism attractions and culture highlighted in Korean series

The ASEAN-Korea Center in Seoul has launched a series of videos that introduce tourist sites and cultural resources of four ASEAN member states, including Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The purpose of the release is to help South Korean people discover the charms and cultural beauty of the region amid ongoing Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Hoi An ancient town by night. Photo: VOV

The virtual tour features plenty about Vietnamese food culture, from popular local dishes such as pho bo (beef noodle soup), banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) and banh xeo (Vietnamese sizzling pancake), to Hue royal cuisine which is considered the pinnacle of Vietnamese gastronomy.

The Vietnamese episode will also introduce renowned UNESCO heritage sites such as Hoi An ancient town, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, as well as popular tourism hotspots, including Phu Quoc Island, Nha Trang, and Dong Van Karst Plateau, cited VOV.

The series is available for viewers on the ASEAN-Korea Center's YouTube channel.

The Republic of Korea represented the second largest Vietnamese tourism market with a record high number of 4.3 million in 2019.

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