The number of Covid-19 deaths in Vietnam has risen to 7,540, accounting for 2.3% of the total number of cases and equivalent to the average rate in the world.

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Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (August 16): 9,580 New Positive Cases Confirmed

Photo: VN Express

Daily caseload hits new record high as over 11.300 cases recorded

An additional 11,321 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Vietnam during the past 24 hours, a record high figure since the start of the outbreak in Vietnam. New cases were also registered in dozens of other localities from north to south, mostly in the central region.

Data from the MoH show the number of new infections detected during the past 24 hours has increased by 2,767 cases compared to the previous day. Notably, Binh Duong saw the infection number rise by 2,400, HCM City up 709, and Tien Giang up 222.

Photo: Zing News

Vietnam likely to approve UAE-made Hayat-Vax vaccine

The Prime Minister has requested the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appraise and approve the Hayat-Vax Covid-19 vaccine produced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for emergency use in Vietnam. According to the Government’s Office, the Ministry of Health will work on quality control, licensing, preservation, and organization of free injections of the vaccine according to regulations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will speed up diplomatic efforts to import the vaccine.

The decision comes after Vimedimex Medical and Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company requested that the Prime Minister consider, approve and direct the Ministry of Health to appraise its dossier concerning approving Hayat-Vax for emergency use in Vietnam.

UAE health officials say that up to 99% of people who have received the Hayat-Vax vaccine shots have developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccine has also helped prevent moderate and severe cases in vaccinated people.

Photo: Zing News

Shippers to halt services in eight Ho Chi Minh City districts

Shippers in HCMC's Thu Duc City and seven other districts would suspend operations starting Aug. 23 when stricter coronavirus restrictions kick in. The military would deploy its forces and employ help from others to deliver food and medicine to people's doorsteps, Vo Minh Luong, Deputy Minister of National Defense, said Friday.

From Aug. 23 to Sept. 6, all shippers who utilize tech apps would need to suspend operations in Thu Duc City, Districts 8, 12, Go Vap, Binh Tan, Binh Thanh, Binh Chanh and Hoc Mon, according to a document issued by the municipal People's Committee on Saturday. For the rest of Ho Chi Minh City, shippers would only be allowed to operate within one district and cannot travel to others.

On Friday, Pham Duc Hai, deputy head of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, said HCMC would tighten its coronavirus restrictions starting Aug. 23, requiring people to "stay where they are," isolating homes from homes, streets from streets and wards from wards.

Photo: Zing News

Closed-circuit cameras monitor social distancing in Da Nang

Thousands of surveillance cameras have been deployed to manage Covid social distancing in Da Nang City. Nguyen Van Loc, a cell secretary for the Phuoc An 4 neighborhood of Phuoc Ninh Ward, Hai Chau District, turned on three cameras Thursday afternoon to keep watch over sections of Le Dinh Duong Street. Da Nang's surveillance camera system has been in use for five years.

"Now there's no need to go out and monitor. Just watch the cameras, and upon seeing people leaving their homes, remind them of the social distancing order via the neighborhood Zalo group," the 61-year-old said.

The Phuoc An 4 neighborhood has five other cameras to keep watch over the area. For the last four days, residents have stayed inside diligently, said Loc. Loc said the cameras have been useful to monitor the neighborhood during the pandemic. Only certain personnel from local authorities are allowed access to the cameras, granting them the ability to keep watch 24/7 without having to step outside.

As of 6 pm on August 21 Vietnam has documented 336,707 coronavirus cases, ranking 72nd out of 222 countries and territories worldwide in infection numbers. Of the total, 332,626 locally acquired infections have been detected since the virus recurred nearly four months ago.

HCM City remains the hardest hit locality, reporting 171,801 infections, followed by Binh Duong 66,447, Long An 17,440, and Dong Nai 16,839.

As many as 140,087 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease, including 7,272 recoveries announced on August 21.

The number of Covid-19 deaths in Vietnam has risen to 7,540, accounting for 2.3% of the total number of cases and equivalent to the average rate in the world.

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Valerie Mai