Today’s Covid News: Vietnam’s coronavirus infections surpass 200,000

Vietnam’s coronavirus infections surpassed 200,000 as of August 7, with 59% in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

To date, more than 33% of the country’s patients have recovered while the death toll stays at 3,016.

Health professionals of Cho Ray Hospital, one of the leading hospitals in Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran/ Tuoi Tre

Currently, the most affected localities are HCMC and its neighbors including Binh Duong, one of the largest industrial park hubs in the south, with more than 24,000 infections; Long An 9,391; Dong Nai 7,305; and Tien Giang 2,886.

Thus far, Vietnam’s anti-pandemic strategy remains unchanged from the start. Its Covid-19 response includes closing borders, quarantining infections and suspected cases, contact tracing, testing, and stamping out the outbreak on a small scale to avoid impacts on safe zones.

The country maintains the 5K (in Vietnamese including masking – disinfection – distance – no gathering – medical declaration) principle and vaccination.

It is speeding up the inoculation campaign, mostly in affected areas. So far, more than 8.52 million vaccine doses have been administered, including more than 863,000 fully inoculated. There are six kinds of vaccines are available in Vietnam, namely AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Pfizer/BioNTech, Janssen, Sinopharm, and Moderna.

Vaccination drive

With an aim to maintain the production, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the health ministry to soon buy vaccines to inject workers of four associations namely Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO), the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), the Vietnam Electronic Industries Association (VEIA), and the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA).

Chinh made the request after the four associations asked the Government to facilitate the import of vaccines and prioritize them the vaccination.

They had found the vaccine supply by the UAE-based Royal Strategic Partners (RSP). The associations said they will bear all costs related to vaccines and inoculation.

The four aforementioned industries reap export turnover worth US$150 billion annually, accounting for nearly 60% of the country’s total exports, employing more than eight million people and about 12 million others indirectly involved in the sectors.

In the latest move, the Ministry of Health has released new regulations on the quarantine of people coming from affected areas. Accordingly, fully vaccinated people are allowed to quarantine at home for one week with twice testing. Meanwhile, those who get no vaccination or one jab need to undergone two-week home quarantine, another two-week medical surveillance, and testing three times.

Ha Tinh's returnees from Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Zing

Suspending Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City passenger flights

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked all airlines to stop passenger flights between areas in social distancing orders, including Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City routes.

Only flights for public and anti-pandemic missions are allowed. Passengers need to undergo testing and quarantine as stipulated in the law. The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will operate such flights.

Since July 22, passenger flights from Hanoi to Can Tho and Phu Quoc and returns have been suspended. Meanwhile, cargo flights for medical equipment, goods, and health workers keep operating.

Vietnamese Government covers all Covid treatment and funeral cost

In the decision by the National Assembly yesterday, the Government will cover all treatment fees for Covid-19 patients and bear the funeral costs for those who died of the novel coronavirus.

Today [August 7], the Secretary of the HCMC's Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen said that the local government will cover all costs for the funeral of Covid deaths.

Nen said the City's Military Command will take responsibility for the handover of the remains to the families. For the families that cannot take the remains home yet, they will be kept in pagodas until they get ready.

“The city will take care of everything from funeral rituals, transportation, cremation, to the delivery of the ashes to the deceased's families. The city will try to take care of this work in the safest and most dignified way,” said Director of the city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Toan Thang.

The city spends VND17 million (US$739) for the funeral cost of each case.

So far, the city has reported 2,105 Covid-19 deaths.

An old man walks past through a quiet street in Hanoi's downtown. Photo: Khanh Huy/ Phap Luat Xa Hoi

Hanoi

On August 7, Hanoi has undergone the 15th day of stricter social distancing that will be extended until August 22.

On the same day, it reports 82 infections, totaling 1,888 without death.

Covid-19 infections in Vietnam. Source: MoH. Chart: Minh Vu