Vietnam News Today (September 5): Hanoi Deploys New Covid-19 Checkpoints in High-risk Areas
	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 records 13,101 new cases

Vietnam confirmed 13,101 new Covid-19 cases in 37 localities Sunday, taking the domestic tally in the ongoing wave to 520,014.

The three localities with the highest numbers of infection were HCMC with 6,226 cases, Binh Duong with 3,540 cases and Dong Nai with 1,243 cases, all three major southern industrial hubs.

A health worker instructs a man on how to take a quick Covid-19 test in Binh Thanh District, HCMC, August 23, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Of the day's tally, 7,521 cases were detected in the community with unclear sources of transmission while the remaining had been contained in quarantine and lockdown areas.

The health ministry also confirmed 281 new Covid fatalities, with 222 in Ho Chi Minh City, 38 in Binh Duong, five in Tien Giang, four in Can Tho, three in Long An, two each in Binh Thuan, Dong Thap and Khanh Hoa, and one each in Hanoi, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Dong Nai, cited VnExpress.

The coronavirus death toll in Vietnam so far is 13,074, accounting for around 2.5 percent of all cases in the country.

9,211 Covid-19 patients were announced recovered Saturday, bringing the number of recovered cases so far to 291,727.

Over 21 million people have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shots. Over 3 million are fully vaccinated.

Hanoi supports foreigners in difficulties due to Covid-19

Hanoi’s authorities September 4 gave 25 sets of gifts to foreign students studying at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture in Gia Lam district.

The presents are from the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi and the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations.

The foreign students are from different countries including Laos, Mozambique, Angola, Japan and Cambodia.

Each set of presents included VND500,000 (US$22), and other necessary items such as rice, cooking oil, cookies, fish sauce and face masks.

Foreign students receive the gifts. Photo: VNA

The gifts are among 270 sets of gifts from the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi given to foreigners living and studying in the capital and in difficulties due to Covid-19.

Speaking at the giving ceremony, Chairwoman of the city’s Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Lan Huong said that supporting foreign students in Hanoi would help them feel secure and agree with local residents in fighting and preventing the pandemic.

They were small gifts, but a great source of encouragement and showed local people’s affection for foreign students and international friends, she said.

Huong said that with determination of all the political system, agreement of local residents and support from international friends, Hanoi would soon control the pandemic and return to normal.

Borey Koemseang, a Cambodian, said that with love and care from local residents, foreign students at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture had received much valuable encouragement and support.

Foreign students promised to fulfill their studying for a brighter future and contribute to good relationships between Việt Nam and other countries, according to VNA.

Earlier, from September 1 to 3, Hanoi authorities also gave gifts to more than 70 foreigners living in Hoan Kiem and Tay Ho districts.

The capital city will continue to support foreigners in difficulties due to the pandemic.

HCM City envisages post coronavirus ‘new normal’ scenarios

Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, will develop scenarios of a ‘new normal’ status following the successful Covid-19 prevention model in its districts No.7 and Cu Chi, according to a senior local official.

Nguyen Van Nen, Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee, made the statement at a working session with the local administration of District No.7 on September 5, noting District No.7 and Cu Chi are the first that have basically brought the outbreak under control.

The two districts will carry out a pilot scheme on a ‘new normal’ status that will be then replicated citywide as soon as the outbreak is kept in check, Nen said.

More than 99% of residents in District No.7 have been vaccinated against Covid-19. Photo: VOV

To halt the spread of the virus, District No.7 said it has thoroughly implemented social distancing measures. In addition, it has also completed Covid-19 testing and separated all F0 cases from its ‘green’ and ‘yellow’ zones as scheduled.

As of September 4, approximately 237,000 residents in the district, or 99.43% of its total population, have been vaccinated against Covid-19, cited VOV.

The local administration has pooled all resources to support people heavily affected by the outbreak to ensure none of them are left behind.

The district has established a socio-economic development model research centre in order to bring operations back to the new normal. The centre has developed a plan to gradually reopen production workshops, business services, hotels, restaurants, markets and schools and other essential services.

Secretary Nen welcomed the local administration’s plan but said the district should continue to go ahead with strict measures against Covid-19.

“You must not rest on your laurels, because your efforts will come to nothing if the virus recurs,” he said.

HCM City is the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam. It has so far recorded more than 245,000 new coronavirus infections, or half of the country’s total, since the resurgence of the virus in late April.

Vietnam welcomes first international flight under vaccine passport policy

A flight with 297 Vietnamese passengers that arrived from Japan Saturday has become the first to enjoy the shortened seven-day quarantine policy under a trial vaccine passportprogram.

All passengers on the flight that landed at the Van Don Airport had already received two doses of Covid-19 vaccines, with the second dose administered at least 14 days but no more than 12 months prior to the date of entry.

They also furnished proof of negative Covid tests using RT-PCR method validated by authorities in the host country 72 hours before departure.

Passengers wait to get their luggage after arriving at Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province on a flight from Japan, September 4, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

After arriving at the Van Don Airport, all passengers were transported to the Novotel Ha Long Hotel to undergo a seven-day quarantine instead of the usual 14 days.

They will have to remain another seven days in self-isolation, reported VnExpress.

Pham Ngoc Sau, director of Van Don International Airport, said all passengers had to undergo body temperature checks, submit health declaration forms, wear masks and keep a safe distance at all times.

All luggage, carry-on and checked, were sterilized.

The vaccine passport policy will apply for another repatriation flight for Vietnamese nationals returning from the U.S. on September 12.

The government has approved pilot implementation of a vaccine passport program in the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to the nation’s first private airport. Vaccinated or recovered entrants will be quarantined for seven days upon arrival.

Vietnam closed its borders and canceled all international flights in March last year. Only Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts, diplomats, investors, and highly-skilled workers have been allowed in since with stringent quarantine requirements.

Vietnamese students begin new school year in person, online

Fifty-seven provinces and cities on September 5 held a special opening ceremony of the 2021-2022 new school year either physically or virtually.

The 2021-2022 school year takes place at a time when the fresh Covid-19 outbreak is ravaging a large number of cities and provinces across Vietnam, dealing a heavy blow to business production and social affairs, including education. Many localities have closed schools due to rising Covid-19 threats, VOV reported.

As of September 5, 45 localities nationwide have decided to hold the opening ceremony of the new school year either physically or online, while the remaining 18 localities have cancelled or delayed the opening date, giving priority to pandemic prevention and ensuring students’ safety.

Hanoi authorities attend the opening ceremony of the new school year at Trung Vuong upper secondary school. Photo: VOV

In Hanoi capital, the opening ceremony took place physically at Trung Vuong upper secondary school and it was broadcast live on Hanoi Television. All delegates, teachers and students had passed a Covid-19 test one day before coming to the event.

Teachers and students of other schools were required to watch the live broadcast and then begin the new school year online.

Hanoi has recently decided to extend its social distancing order in 15 districts for another two weeks as the Covid-19 outbreak remains complicated, with dozens of new cases recorded every day.

Bac Giang province, one of Hanoi’s neighbors and a former coronavirus hotspot, has permitted teachers and students to attend the opening ceremony of the new school year in person.

Schools had mobilized its employees to clean floors, doorknobs, tables and chairs, as well as teaching equipment with disinfectants and detergents before the ceremony was held.

Students were required to keep a safe distance at the opening ceremony that took place in less than an hour.

In the central region, nearly 200,000 students of all grades attended the opening ceremony of the new school year online.

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