The new infections brought the national count to 205,656, including 203,313 locally transmitted and 2,343 imported cases.

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (August 4): Hanoi Sets Up First 'Green Zones' Covid-free Areas

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (August 3): Vingroup Receives mRNA Vaccine Production Technology

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (August 2): Ho Chi Minh City Extends Social Distancing

Vietnam logs 4,941 new Covid-19 infections (Photo: VN Express)

Vietnam logs 4,941 new Covid-19 infections

Vietnam recorded 4,941 new Covid-19 infections, including 4,937 domestic and four imported cases, in the past 12 hours to 6 am on August 8.

Ho Chi Minh City, which is the current largest pandemic hotspot, logged 1,896 cases, while its neighboring Binh Duong province reported 1,477 infections.

The remainders were found in Long An (724), Dong Nai (390), Soc Trang (94), Hanoi (63), Da Nang (62), Vinh Long (57), Dong Thap (48), Ninh Thuan (23), Thua Thien-Hue (19), Kien Giang (18), Binh Dinh (14), Hau Giang (14), Phu Yen (13), Quang Ngai (9), Lao Cai (3), Ha Tinh (3), Thanh Hoa (2), Lang Son (2), Son La (2), Bac Lieu (2), and Ca Mau (2).

Vietnam allows conditional home quarantine for F0 cases. (Photo: VN Express)

Vietnam allows conditional home quarantine for F0 cases

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long has signed a decision, allowing home quarantine for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic Covid-19 patients in hard-hit localities. The telegram dated August 7 to cities and provinces says community infections that are asymptomatic and have a low viral load (CT ≥ 30) are allowed to self-isolate at home under close health quarantine monitoring.

Those who have already recovered from the virus but re-test positive during home isolation do not need to be admitted to the hospital. The patients need to self-monitor their health and report any clinical symptoms if they develop to the local healthcare facility. The Ministry of Health reminds that home quarantine is only allowed for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases in localities that see a surge in cases. It applies only if anti-Covidprotocols are fully observed.

The ministry requests localities to prepare adequate oxygen, ventilators, emergency beds, and other necessary supplies and equipment if the situation gets worse. It also asks localities to instruct residents and workers at production establishments and industrial zones to take samples themselves for Covid-19 testing if necessary.

(Photo: VN Express)

Covid-19 claims 234 more lives in Vietnam

The Ministry of Health announced on August 8 morning its Covid-19 database has recorded another 234 deaths in 13 cities and provinces during the past two days.

Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot at present, led the cities and provinces, registering 185 cases alone on August 6-7. Over the past weeks, the southern metropolis has recorded between 3,000 – 4,000 new coronavirus cases and between 100-200 fatalities each day. It has been implementing restrictive measures to halt the spread of the virus and reduce the mortality rate.

Other southern localities reporting Covid-19 fatalities on August 7 include Ben Tre 7, Vinh Long 7, Dong Nai 5, Tay Ninh 5, Tien Giang 5, Binh Thuan 3, Soc Trang 2, Hau Giang, Binh Duong, and Tra Vinh 1 each.

Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi passenger flights suspended. (Photo: VN Express)

Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi passenger flights suspended

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has decided to suspend all regular passenger flights between localities that are implementing social distancing measures, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Priority is only given to flights serving official services and Covid-19 prevention tasks, the CAAV said in a report to the Ministry of Transport. For repatriation flights between two localities, the CAAV requested the two localities to develop a detailed plan to ensure pandemic prevention measures are fully observed.

Earlier, the CAAV requested airlines to suspend passenger flights from Hanoi to Can Tho and Phu Quoc and vice versa, starting on July 22. Passengers on domestic flights are required to have a valid negative test certificate in line with Covid-19 guidelines set out by the Ministry of Health.

Currently, both Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat international airports in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have testing services. Passengers traveling from pandemic-hit areas must comply with local isolation regulations.

The new infections brought the national count to 205,656, including 203,313 locally transmitted and 2,343 imported cases. Of those, 66,637 patients have recovered from the disease while 3,250 others died.

As many as 8,896,615 doses of vaccines have been administered so far, including 888,459 second shots.

" "

Valerie Mai