Regulatory quality and covid 19 managing the risks and supporting the recovery

Cambodian of Vietnamese origin have been facing a lot of difficulties due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia, in collaboration with the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Cambodia, presented emergency relief aid to numerous households of Vietnamese origin in Prek Phnov District, Phnom Penh, on September 9. These households have been facing a lot of difficulties due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The support includes rice, mosquito nets, and cash to 50 households of Vietnamese origin representing 1,171 disadvantaged households in 12 districts of the capital city. President of the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Phnom Penh Huynh Minh Phu talks to the media about emergency relief aid to Cambodians of Vietnamese origin. Photo: Nguyen Vu Hung/ VNA President of the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Phnom Penh Huynh Minh Phu said that there have been many relief rounds, but they still fall short of meeting their demand because …

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Homeless people in HCMC receive medical care and are vaccinated against Covid-19 before entering the HCMC Social Support Center homeless people , 336 were taken to Tan Dinh Mental Health Nursing Center and Chanh Phu Hoa Social Support Center located in Binh Duong Province, 479 to Binh Duc Social Support Center and Tan Hiep Social Support Center sited in Binh Phuoc Province, and the last 118 to HCMC Social Support Center or back to their original home. During the latest Covid-19 outbreak in HCMC, social organizations have received 330 drug addicts with no stable accommodation. 575 drug addicts were forced by the court to compulsory rehabilitation facilities in the provinces of Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, and Dong Nai. At present, social support centers are taking care of more than 12,600 drug addicts and 6,000 vagrants. The People’s Committees of all districts and Thu Duc City in HCMC are checking and documenting drug addicts, beggars and homeless people in their areas …

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ADB has reduced its GDP forecast for Vietnam but remains optimistic on its post-pandemic prospects The country’s economy is expected to grow 3.8 per cent this year and 6.5 per cent in 2022, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021 Update . Growth picked up in the first half of 2021, largely because of higher trade volumes, but slowed down in the second half of the year as the fourth wave of the pandemic took a toll on business and the labor market. Inflation will be muted in 2021 and 2022 due to the slower growth. “The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and extended lockdowns have weakened consumption and investment, hampering Vietnam’s growth prospects," said ADB’s country director for Vietnam Andrew Jeffries. “But the Vietnamese economy will bounce back if the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control by the end of 2021 and 70 per cent of the country’s population are vaccinated by the second quarter of 2022.” The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to drag down 2021’s …

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A group of 16 commercial banks, accounting for 75% of total outstanding loans, has committed to foregoing around VND20.6 trillion ($906.3 million) in waiving and lowering interest rates for customers in the remainder of the year. From January 23 to August 31, banks have foregone a total of VND26 trillion ($1.14 billion) in profit to support customers, while 16 banks have reduced their profit by VND8.86 trillion ($390 million) from July 15 to August 31, or 43% of their committed amount. Since the first Covid-19 outbreak last year, commercial banks and credit institutions under the instruction of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) have been actively providing support for businesses struggling with the Covid-19 impacts and stabilizing the macroeconomy for a speedy recovery. Vietnam Bank for Social Policies at Ba Vi District, Hanoi, provides preferential loans for customers. Photo: Hong Dat In 2020, the SBV cut the policy rates three times with a total of 1.5-2 …

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Health ministry proposes Telehealth to treat COVID-19 patients at home Over 795,000 COVID-hit workers eligible for assistance HCM City to spend $351.2 mil on social relief Fully vaccinated people still have to comply with social distancing regulations, 5K message: Health ministry No COVID-19 vaccination for children yet, amid supply shortage: Health ministry A pregnant woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine. Photo courtesy of vietnamnet.vn HCM CITY — Issuing COVID-19 green cards to eligible residents is one of seven strategies that the HCM City Department of Health has proposed after September 15, when the city will make a decision on relaxing social distancing regulations. Director of the HCM City Department of Health Tăng Chí Thượng is seeking feedback from the city People’s Committee on COVID-19 prevention strategies to be carried out after September 15. During the outbreak, authorities have implemented multiple solutions such as the three-level treatment …

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Issuing COVID-19 green cards to eligible residents is one of seven strategies that the HCM City Department of Health has proposed after September 15, when the city will make a decision on relaxing social distancing regulations. A pregnant woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine. Photo courtesy of vietnamnet.vn Director of the HCM City Department of Health Tăng Chí Thượng is seeking feedback from the city People’s Committee on COVID-19 prevention strategies to be carried out after September 15. During the outbreak, authorities have implemented multiple solutions such as the three-level treatment regime, treatment of infected cases at home, drug packages for patients at home, new drugs for treatment, and increased vaccine coverage throughout the city. As a result, HCM City is expected to experience a drop in the number of severe cases and deaths after September 15. The fourth wave is expected to be moderately controlled in the time to come. Seven key …

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Vietnam’s GDP growth may reach 3.5-4% this year in case the pandemic is contained in September. Once the pandemic is contained, Vietnam’s economy would soon recovery thanks to the solid economic performance in the first half of 2021, said World Bank’s Senior Economist Dorsati Madani. A garment factory in Hanoi. Photo: Thanh Hai Madani added in light of multiple challenges and risks from the pandemic, the economy has shown its resilience and dynamic over time, referring to the country alongside China as a handful of economies posting positive growth in 2020. According to the economist, the steady recovery of major economies such as the US, China, and EU, which are also Vietnam’s major export markets, would be instrumental for Vietnam’s economic recovery. In the latest Vietnam’s macro-economy report, the World Bank noted the vaccination campaign is a critical priority at the moment to cover at least 70% of the adult population. “The government should use …

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Business community is facing many difficulties due to COVID-19 The proposal is made in the context that social distancing and prolonged lockdowns over the past 2-3 months in many cities and provinces, especially those in the south, are causing many difficulties for businesses. The associations include the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association, the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam – Hanoi Branch (AmCham Hanoi), Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association (VBA), and the Vietnam Electronic Industries Association, and others. Accordingly, people should be allowed to travel and join social activities, except for those involving large gatherings, if they have negative COVID-19 test no older than 14 days (for the fully vaccinated), or a certificate of recovery; or a negative test no older than five days for people having received one shot; and within three …

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Local governments must closely coordinate with farmers and businesses in building a master plan on agricultural trade resumption. The people's committees of provinces and cities in coordination with the sectors of health, industry and trade, ministries and central branches need to closely work with businesses to remove difficulties and restore farm production and consumption. Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh. HNT Photo: Duc Tuan Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh made the statement on September 13 at an online conference to speed up circulation and consumption of agricultural products while measures against Covid-19 are still in place. Thanh also said some localities’ regulatory work is still not timely and effective, leading to stagnation in production and circulation of goods. “The Government has issued many documents instructing measures to prevent disruption in production and circulation of goods. However, lack of the flexibility at some localities …

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Vietnam recorded no new COVID-19 infections overnight, making the tally unchanged at 1,069, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced on September 26 morning. Vietnamese citizens from abroad go to quarantine sites after entry into the country (Photo: VNA) This day also marks the 24th consecutive day without community transmissions. Among all the cases, 691 are domestically infected cases, including 551 recorded since the new outbreak began on July 25. As of 6am on September 26, 999 COVID-19 patients had been treated successfully. The fatalities remained at 35. Among patients under treatment, there is no longer any critical case, while four have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, five twice and 13 thrice. A total 21,842 people are being quarantined nationwide. On September 25, eight more patients were given the all-clear from the disease, including six people treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in …

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