Fourth coronavirus wave

The proposal, submitted Wednesday to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, is part of preparations for scenarios after September 15. The department said the number of new infections and deaths in the city should begin to fall after September 15 as coronavirus control measures were working. As the city aims to vaccinate all its adult population, it can also look into relaxing certain restrictions gradually, based on infection risks and medical capabilities, the department said. Depending on how well the virus has been contained, the "Covid-19 green passes" would allow the people to resume production and daily lives. Those eligible to get the passes would include fully vaccinated people who have produced enough antibodies, and those who have recovered from Covid-19 within the last six months. In areas where social distancing orders are under Directive 15, a more relaxed version than Directive 16, people who have recovered as well as fully vaccinated people under 65 without …

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Vietnam’s Ministry of Health logged 13,321 coronavirus infections nationwide on Friday, along with 12,751 discharged patients and 275 fatalities. Thirty-five provinces and cities reported 13,306 local cases while the country recorded 15 separate imported infections, the health ministry said. The ministry had documented 12,399 domestically-infected patients on Thursday. Over 8,600 of the additional domestic cases were detected in the community, with the remaining found in sectioned-off areas or centralized quarantine facilities. Ho Chi Minh City confirmed 7,539 local infections, Binh Duong Province 3,563, Dong Nai Province 823, Long An Province 321, Tay Ninh Province 248, Can Tho City 37, Da Nang 30, and Hanoi 29. Vietnam has registered 585,051 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth – and worst – virus wave emerged in the country on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City is heavily impacted with 286,242 patients, followed by Binh Duong …

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Ho Chi Minh City, epicenter of the fourth coronavirus wave, has recorded nearly 300,000 local Covid-19 cases in the new wave since late April, accounting for around half of all cases in the country. The southern metropolis has undergone over 100 days under numerous social distancing orders, with the latest expected to be extended until Sept. 15. "The sooner we open, the sooner the people would have salaries and troubles would subside," Dam told a meeting with HCMC officials Friday. Coronavirus control measures in the city have produced certain signs of success. Within the first week of September, the average number of deaths recorded a day was 237, a drop of 38 from the previous week. Around 80 percent of HCMC’s adult population have also received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot, paving the way for possibly achieving herd immunity. "We should still be on guard in general, but once vaccines and drugs become available, reopening is certain," said Dam. He added there were …

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Vietnam’s Ministry of Health recorded 12,026 coronavirus infections across the nation on Sunday, together with 11,116 discharged patients and 261 fatalities. Thirty-three provinces and cities logged 12,017 local cases while the country reported nine separate imported infections, the health ministry said. The ministry had registered 11,927 domestically-infected patients on Saturday. Over 6,600 of the additional domestic cases were detected in the community, with the remaining found in sectioned-off areas or centralized quarantine facilities. Ho Chi Minh City recorded 6,158 local infections, Binh Duong Province 3,188, Dong Nai Province 974, Tien Giang Province 628, Long An Province 285, Kien Giang Province 117, Can Tho City 68, Khanh Hoa Province 46, Hanoi 20, and Da Nang 12. Vietnam has confirmed 608,997 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth – and worst – virus wave emerged in the country on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City is …

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In the first phase, airlines would be allowed to resume air routes with a flight frequency not exceeding half that in the first week of April, the time before the fourth coronavirus wave hit Vietnam. In the second phase, the frequency would be increased to not exceed 70 percent, while the final phase would see flight frequency return to the level as seen in the first week of April (but not exceeding it). Airlines would be able to resume flights as they wish after all localities lift social distancing orders as dictated by Directive 16, the CAAV proposed. For air routes that had only one flight a day even pre-pandemic, they can resume operations as normal. Passengers on domestic flights must test negative for the coronavirus within 72 hours before flying. Certain requirements would also be applied in three phases. In the first phase, to be trialed for two weeks, allowed passengers would include those on official missions, those fighting the pandemic, those carrying approved …

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The Ministry of Health registered 11,172 coronavirus cases in Vietnam on Monday, along with 11,200 discharged patients and 381 fatalities. Thirty-five provinces and cities confirmed 11,168 domestic cases whereas the country recorded four separate imported infections, the health ministry said. The ministry had logged 12,017 locally-infected patients on Sunday. More than 5,900 of the latest domestic cases were detected in the community, with the remaining found in sectioned-off areas or centralized quarantine facilities. Ho Chi Minh City documented 5,446 local infections, Binh Duong Province 3,651, Dong Nai Province 768, Long An Province 327, Tien Giang Province 161, Tay Ninh Province 142, Can Tho City 68, Hanoi 41, and Da Nang 13. Vietnam has confirmed 620,165 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth – and worst – virus wave emerged in the country on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City tops the list with 303,475 patients, followed by Binh …

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Green passes are expected to allow holders to undertake certain activities without normal coronavirus restrictions like domestic and international travel and participating in public events. Lam Dinh Thang, director of the city Department of Information and Communication, said Monday the issuance would help the city monitor people's movements and activities based on safety criteria. The passes would be issued based on vaccination status, antibody tests and other medical criteria, he said. There are too many coronavirus control applications, making it inconvenient for both users and authorities, and the city plans to combine them all into a single app, he said. The city has also asked the government to provide QR codes for vehicles used by pass holders, he said. "Once approved by the government, Ho Chi Minh City will trial it in certain areas where the coronavirus risks have been mitigated and are slowly reopening, like Districts 7, Cu Chi and Can Gio," Thang said. A …

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Le Hoa Binh, the city deputy chairman, said the resumption is to help with people's demand for goods as social distancing under Directive 16 is extended until the end of September. Since July delivery people were not allowed to cross district borders and could only work in certain districts as authorities sought to contain Covid-19. Late last month they were allowed to resume deliveries in eight districts earlier considered high-risk. Delivery companies quickly increased the number of shippers to around 25,000, helping meet the public’s demands to shop from home. An average delivery person could handle 20-25 orders a day, meaning 25,000 of them could serve 650,000 families, the city Department of Industry and Trade said. Ho Chi Minh City, epicenter of the fourth coronavirus wave, has recorded 303,475 Covid cases. It has undergone a series of social distancing orders. With strict coronavirus control measures like not allowing people to go out and relying instead on the …

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The Ministry of Health confirmed 10,508 COVID-19 cases throughout Vietnam on Tuesday, together with 12,638 discharged patients and 276 fatalities. Thirty-three provinces and cities reported 10,496 domestic cases whereas the country logged 12 separate imported infections, the health ministry said. The ministry had recorded 11,168 locally-infected patients on Monday. More than 6,700 of the latest domestic cases were detected in the community, with the remaining found in sectioned-off areas or centralized quarantine facilities. Ho Chi Minh City registered 6,312 local infections, up by 866 patients from yesterday; Binh Duong Province 2,178, down by 1,473; Dong Nai Province 777, Long An Province 379, Kien Giang Province 157; An Giang Province 111; Tien Giang Province 102; Hanoi 21; and Da Nang 11. Vietnam has detected 630,661 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth – and worst – virus wave emerged in the country on April 27. Ho Chi Minh …

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Sa Pa, the chilly resort town in the northern highlands province of Lao Cai, enters the rice harvest season from mid-August to early September, when terraced rice fields in Muong Hoa Commune, Lao Chai - Ta Van village ripen, creating stunning yellow and green carpets. The beautiful seasonal scenery typically brings hordes of tourists to Sa Pa, but the pandemic has thwarted the arrivals this year. Photo by Hoang Trung Hieu Ripened rice in terraced fields. The photo was taken late August in the Muong Hoa Valley by Hieu, a Sa Pa native. Hieu said Sa Pa has never been so quiet and it is peak tourism season now. Two women bicycle on deserted Hang Ngang Street, one of the busiest streets in Hanoi, on August 30. Photo by Giang Trinh Hoa sua , or the milk flower, is an autumn highlight of the capital city, blooming and exuding their special fragrance from early September until November. …

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