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HCM City to implement third relief package worth 7.3 trillion VND Ho Chi Minh City will carry out the third relief package worth 7.3 trillion VND (around 320.7 million USD) sourced from the local budget to help more households and informal workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee. Speaking at a press conference held by the city’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on September 20, Hoan said given complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city and prolonged social distancing, people face more difficulties due to job loss and having no income. Therefore, in addition to the social security relief packages of the city's Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and other organisations and individuals, the municipal People's Committee continues to implement the third relief package to help ease difficulties for local residents. According to reports from the People's Committees of …

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Many restaurants in Hanoi cleaned up overnight to prepare for their business resumption after more than 50 days of lockdown. Photo: Duc Thanh Since early September, Ho Chi Minh City has allowed food and beverage (F&B) businesses to provide takeaway services from 6am to 6pm. To ensure that pandemic prevention measures are met, the city has requested such businesses to also apply the stay-at-work model, with continuous coronavirus tests for their staff every two days. Despite the green light, many F&B businesses in the city remain careful. Harry Ang, founder of the Singaporean restaurant chain Lion City told VIR, “It’s a good decision to extend the lockdown and utilise more time for planning the next steps to prevent another outbreak. We have been preparing well, as we know that life will never be the same again. All plans have to be carefully executed according to prevention protocols.” He added that he agrees with the local authorities on COVID-19 tests as a good way …

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As the capital relaxed its coronavirus restrictions starting Tuesday, thousands of residents flooded the streets at night to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Streams of vehicles closely packed together could be seen on downtown streets like Trang Thi, Dinh Tien Hoang and Ly Thai To. "If there was any person infected with the Delta variant among the crowds in Hanoi last night, transmission is extremely likely. Once it happens, authorities would find it difficult to contact trace, as they have no idea who's made contact with whom," said Tran Dac Phu, senior advisor at the Public Health Emergency Operations Center. While the capital city authorities had advised people to only go out if necessary despite the relaxed restrictions, the gathering large crowds like Tuesday night without adequate coronavirus control measures may severely impact efforts to fight Covid-19. Even if most people were wearing masks, close proximity can still allow infections to happen, Phu said. However, he …

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The Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health has given the green light to Vimedimex Medi-Pharma JSC to import 30 million doses of the Hayat-Vax vaccine, produced in China and packaged in the UAE. A vial of the Hayat-Vax vaccine. - Photo: VGP Vimedimex had earlier proposed importing the vaccine to meet the urgent demand for the pandemic prevention and control in Vietnam, Lao Dong newspaper reported. The vaccine is made by China’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd (Sinopharm) and packaged by the UAE’s Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar). The Drug Administration of Vietnam required the vaccine batch to meet the requirements attached to a decision approving the Hayat-Vax vaccine. Vimedimex was also asked to take responsibility for the origin and quality of the vaccine and ensure the safe and effective use of the vaccine for the right purpose. The company must also comply with prevailing regulations on the vaccine import and …

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Up to 25 localities out of 63 provinces and cities reopened schools for physical studying as the COVID-19 outbreaks have been put under control. By late September 19, 25 provinces and cities reopened schools, 24 localities applied online teaching, and 14 others combined physical teaching, online teaching, and educational broadcasts through television, according to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). The MoET reported that up to 25 localities out of 63 provinces and cities reopened schools for physical studying as the COVID-19 outbreaks have been put under control. Meanwhile, disease hotspots like HCMC, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Binh Duong applied online teaching. Up to 14 other localities combined different types of teaching including online teaching, physical teaching, and educational broadcasts through television. Earlier, on September 13, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh launched a program to provide computers and telecommunications services for students …

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According to a survey by the Covid-19 Resuscitation Hospital in HCM City, up to 67% of patients said they wanted to have psychological counseling. Psychologist Tri Thi Minh Thuy talks with a severe Covid-19 patient who has recovered from the disease and is about to be discharged from the hospital. Photo: Cho Ray Hospital. According to the survey, 20% of the patients suffered depression, 53.3% with anxiety disorder, and 16.7% with stress. In particular, up to 66.7% patients who needed High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) suffered from depression. Similarly, 66.7% patients who had to breathe oxygen through a mask or mechanical ventilator suffered from anxiety disorder. As many as 67% of patients wanted psychological counseling during treatment and after being discharged from the hospital. The hospital has invited psychologist Tri Thi Minh Thuy from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City, to survey and provide psychological treatment support …

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The authorities in Ninh Binh Province's Hoa Lu District have introduced online tours to some local tourist sites on social media. Ninh Binh holds online tours The tour guides led the live streams and the viewers on Facebook to various beauty spots and historical locations in Hoa Lu. The viewers could also ask questions and interact with the guide on the Ninh Binh Centre for Information Tourism Promotion Fanpage. The live stream attracted over 10,000 views, and large amounts of engagement. According to the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, due to Covid-19, they are searching for new methods and opportunities to boost tourism. Discovering Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Programme is their first online tour and effort to help the tourism industry recover. They are also preparing to reopen the industry when possible. Other online tours will be held in Tam Coc-Bich Dong, Trang An complex and Cuc Phuong National Park. Specialities of Ninh Binh like burnt rice will also be …

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A representative of HCM City's Youth Union wears the costume of a traditional character of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as she presents gifts for children of migrant workers in dormitories in HCM City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Many children in Ho Chi Minh City , the country’s coronavirus epicentre, have enjoyed a special Mid-Autumn Festival this year despite social distancing regulations thanks to joint efforts of authorities, organisations and volunteers. In the past three days, the dormitories of migrant workers in Son Ky, Tay Thanh wards in Tan Phu district; Tan Nhut, An Phu Tay wards in Binh Chanh district; and Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone in Nha Be district have been full of the sounds of happiness with children’s laughter. Youngsters celebrated their Mid-Autumn Festival with mooncakes, milk, small boxes of candy and biscuits, as well colourful paper lanterns. These are in gift packages for the full-moon festival local authorities, youth unions and benefactors, …

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