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A medic hands a package of medicine for Covid-19 patient to a HCMC resident, September 3, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam confirms 12,477 new Covid-19 cases

Health authorities confirmed 12,477 new Covid-19 cases in 39 localities Monday, down 624 from Sunday.

Ho Chi Minh City led with 7,122 new cases, followed by Binh Duong Province (2,194) and Dong Nai Province (871).

Of the day's tally, 8,099 cases were detected in the community with unclear sources of transmission while the remaining had been contained in quarantine and lockdown areas. This brings the total number of cases in the fourth Covid-19 wave starting late April to 532,491, cited VnExpress.

Total recoveries since the start of the pandemic rose to 301,457 with 9,730 of them announced on the day.

331 deaths were confirmed Monday, most of them in HCMC. The Covid-19 death tally is now at 13,385, or 2.5 percent of infections.

Vietnam has vaccinated 22.01 million people, among them 3.33 million have received two doses.

HCM City sets up steering committee on economic recovery

The steering committee, led by HCM City Chairman Phan Van Mai, is responsible for developing a plan for pandemic prevention and control and economic recovery in the city after September 15.

The steering committee will develop the plan in two phases, from September 15 to December 31, 2021 and 2022 and the following years.

Members of the steering committee include: HCM City Vice Chairman Le Hoa Binh as the committee’s vice head, and four other Vice chairs - Phan Thi Thang, Vo Van Hoan, Duong Anh Duc and Ngo Minh Chau – as the committee members.

Other members are: Director of Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong, Director of Department of Planning and Investment Le Thi Huynh Mai, Director of Department of Finance Pham Thi Hong Ha, Director of Department of Industry and Trade Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the Department of Justice Huynh Van Hanh, Director of the Department of Construction Tran Hoang Quan, Chief of the Office of the HCM City People's Committee Ha Phuoc Thang, Director of the Institute of HCM City Development Research Tran Hoang Ngan, Dr. Nguyen Tan Binh and Dr. Vu Thanh Tu Anh (Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, Fulbright University Vietnam).

HCM City Chairman Phan Van Mai. Photo: VNN

The Steering Committee also has advisory groups, including:

Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control working group: to prepare content, scenarios and solutions for pandemic prevention and control in the above periods. This group is led by HCM City Vice Chairman Duong Anh Duc, with Director of the Health Department Tang Chi Thuong as the vice head and nine members.

Social security working group: to prepare content and solutions for social security tasks for those who are affected by the Covid-19 epidemic in the above stages. This group is led by Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoan, with the Director of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Minh Tan as the deputy head, and 10 members, according to VNN.

Economic recovery working group: to prepare content and solutions for economic recovery in the city in the two stages. This group is led by Vice Chairwoman Phan Thi Thang, with the Director of Department of Planning and Investment Le Thi Huynh Mai as deputy head, and 12 members.

Working group to promote investment projects: to make detailed disbursement plans for each public investment project, especially key projects and projects with large investment capital; to cooperate with relevant agencies to solve important related tasks in removing difficulties for businesses when implementing investment projects in the city. The group is led by Vice Chairman Le Hoa Binh, with the Director of Department of Construction Tran Hoang Quan as the deputy head, and nine members.

Vietnam sets September deadline for Covid-19 situation control

Vietnam should try and control the pandemic situation by this month end, then restore production and business in safe places, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Monday.

The socio-economic situation in the past eight months has been greatly affected by the latest Covid outbreak.The highest priority should be given to establish control over the pandemic as early as possible because this is a decisive factor for economic recovery, he said at a cabinet meeting.

Given the current shortage of vaccines and low vaccination coverage, preventive measures are still required, including social distancing measures, the PM said.

Aerial view of a desolate HCMC street amid a Covid-19 social distancing order. Photo: VnExpress

"We must engage in scientific research and closely follow the actual situation to prepare measures to safely adapt to the pandemic in order to resume safe travel, safe production, and safe services," Chinh said.

He asked related agencies to develop a roadmap for economic recovery and growth in the scenario of widespread vaccination coverage, reported VnExpress.

The PM ordered a pilot program to attract international tourists to the southern island of Phu Quoc from now until the end of the year, expecting 2-3 million arrivals. Chinh also asked relevant agencies facilitate goods supply and distribution system, especially wholesale markets.

Deputy PM Le Van Thanh said that economic growth prospects depend a lot on the ability to control the epidemic. From now until September 15, ministries and other agencies need to develop a common master plan on opening up the economy, he said.

Vietnam has so far recorded 532,491 Covid-19 cases in the fourth wave that started April 27.

Vietnam’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympics quest ends with a silver medal

Vietnam has bagged home just a silver medal, ranking 75th overall at the 2020 Paralympic games that closed in Tokyo, Japan, on September 5.

The only silver medal went to weightlifter Le Van Cong who lifted a total of 137kg in the men's 49-kg weight category.

The 37-year-old athlete finished second as his body weight was just 100g heavier than his opponent Omar Qarada who also had the same competition results.

Weightlifter Le Van Cong has clinched the only silver medal for Vietnam at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Photo: VOV

Unlike Cong, other Vietnamese athletes such as swimmers Trinh Thi Bich Nhu and Vu Thanh Tung failed to progress to the finals.

Vietnam sent seven athletes to compete in swimming, weightlifting, and track-and-field. Weightlifter Cong was the only athlete who had won a silver medal for Vietnam.

China topped the medal tally clinching a total of 207 medals (96 golds, 60 silvers, 51 bronzes), nearly twice as many as the second-ranked United Kingdom with 127 medals. The US only won 104 medals of all kinds, including 37 gold medals, ranking third overall, cited VOV.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam’s neighbors such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore took at least two gold medals each. Thailand ranked 25th with 18 medals (5 golds, 5 silvers, 8 bronzes), Malaysia finished 39th with 5 medals (3 golds, 2 silvers), and Singapore came 48th with 2 golds.

23 players shortlisted for World Cup qualifier against visiting Australia

Head coach Park Hang-seo has named 23 Vietnamese players for their September 7 match against visiting Australians in Hanoi as part of the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The match will see defender Tran Dinh Trong be sidelined due to his muscle injury, while another defender Do Duy Manh will not be able to join his teammates after he was red-carded in Vietnam's 3-1 loss away to Saudi Arabia on September 2.

Photo: VOV

Instead, Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Tran Van Kien will replace Duy Manh and Dinh Trong in the line-up

Elsewhere, defender Truong Van Thiet who was part of the squad that travelled to Saudi Arabia, has not been named in the shortlist. Instead, his Viettel FC teammate Bui Tien Dung will return to the national squad after recovering from injury.

Talented striker Cong Phuong will not also be able to play due to his family affairs, reported VOV.

The rest of the team look set to remain unchanged as they showed up in the match against Saudi Arabia.

Vietnam are due to take on Australia at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi at 7 p.m. on September 7. This will also mark the first match played in Vietnam to use Video assistant referee (VAR) and goal-line technology (GLT).

Vietnam are currently fifth in Group B after losing to Saudi Arabia in their opening match. Australia are top of the group following their 3-0 victory over China.

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