Photo: VOV

Vietnam records 3,636 new positive cases and 1,542 recoveries

The nation documented a total of 3,636 Covid-19 cases on October 21, representing a fall of 17 infections compared to the previous day, according to figures released by the Ministry of Health.

Ho Chi Minh City continued to report the highest number of cases with 1,255, followed by neighboring Binh Duong province with 483 and Dong Nai province with 390.

The overall national tally now stands at 877,537, including 3,156 imported and 874,381 local infections.

According to statistics published within the Ministry of Health’s report, 3,041 patients nationwide are in serious condition.

Furthermore, October 21 also saw the country’s fatality count relating to Covid-19 rise to 21,487 following the confirmation of a further 71 deaths.

A total of 1,541 patients were also declared to be clear of the virus, thereby taking the total number of recoveries to 798,124.

As of October 20, the nation had injected over 68.8 million doses of vaccines, with more than 19.4 million people now being fully vaccinated, cited VOV.

Currently, the health sector is in the process of implementing guidelines or plans aimed at launching a vaccination drive for children as swiftly as possible.

According to Dr. Kidong Park, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, the WHO recommends that children with severe chronic diseases can be vaccinated against Covid-19, providing that there is enough supply.

The nation is currently home to over 8.1 million children aged between 12 and 17. According to statistics compiled by the health sector, there are more than 20,000 children under the age of 15 with Covid-19 being treated at medical facilities nationwide, in addition to those who have no symptoms, or who only have mild illness and are undergoing treatment at home.

Five Vietnam localities to welcome foreign tourists starting November

Da Nang, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam and Quang Ninh would receive foreign tourists starting November as the first phase of Vietnam's roadmap to resume international tourism.

At a Thursday meeting with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and authorities of the aforementioned localities, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said the resumption of international tourism needs to happen quickly and safely.

During the first phase, starting from November, foreign tourists coming to the five localities must specify their destinations and places of residence. Those who have completed their itineraries during the first seven days must be tested for Covid-19 before going somewhere else, said Dam.

All five localities are major beach destinations. Kien Giang is home to the country's largest island Phu Quoc while Quang Nam is particularly known for ancient town Hoi An and Quang Ninh Ha Long Bay.

Tourists in Hoi An ancient town in Quang Nam Province in early April 2021, before the fourth wave of Covid hit. Photo: VnExpress

Details of which parts of the five to be open to tourists were not revealed. But the deputy PM said in Kien Giang, foreign tourists will be taken to parts of Phu Quoc Island.

During the second phase, starting from January 2022, localities other than the five may sign up to receive foreign tourists as well, depending on the vaccination and Covid-19 control situation at the time. The tourism ministry would decide before January 2022 if localities are qualified to receive foreign tourists.

Dam said the complete reopening of the tourism sector, expected to begin in the second quarter of 2022, would need to depend on the coronavirus situation at that time as well, according to VnExpress.

The culture ministry would issue documents to instruct localities on receiving foreign tourists during the initial phases.

According to existing policies regarding vaccine passports, even fully vaccinated visitors to Vietnam must still undergo centralized quarantine for seven days.

Vietnam currently accepts Covid-19 vaccine passports from 72 countries and territories, and is discussing the issue with 80 others, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday.

Vietnam recognizes vaccination certificates, passports from 72 countries, territories

Vietnam has temporarily recognized vaccination certificates and vaccine passports by 72 countries and territories in line with the Government’s Resolution No.128/NQ-CP on safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of Covid-19 pandemic, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang, VNA reported.

During the ministry’s regular press conference that was held virtually on October 21, Hang said holders of these documents will have their concentrated quarantine period reduced to seven days in accordance with the Vietnamese Health Ministry’s guidelines on shortening quarantine time for fully vaccinated or recovered passengers.

Photo: AFP

She added that the Foreign Ministry also discussed with nearly 80 partners about mutual recognition of vaccination certificates or vaccine passports. To date, Vietnam’s vaccination certificate has been recognized by several nations.

According to the Prime Minister’s directions on creating favorable conditions for workers, experts, investors and others for development goals, the Foreign Ministry consulted ministries, agencies and localities regarding difficulties and suggested authorities adjust procedures for approving foreigners’ entry, including supplementing vaccination certificates or vaccine passports in visa application, cutting time for handling dossiers, and enhancing decentralization for ministries and agencies.

Hanoi's My Dinh Stadium to allow spectators for World Cup qualifiers

Football fans can enjoy matches live at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium as it hosts Vietnam's upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifier matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The Hanoi People's Committee Thursday approved a decision to this effect and sent it to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

It said only 12,000 seats out of 40,000, or around 30 percent, can be occupied per match.

Spectators hold up images of the Vietnamese national flag during the AFF Cup final between Vietnam and Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, December 15, 2018. Photo: VnExpress

Spectators must either be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before the match or have recovered from Covid-19 within the last six months. They must also test negative for the coronavirus at least 72 hours prior, and abide by pandemic prevention measures like keeping distances and wearing masks.

Vietnam entered the final round of World Cup qualifiers for the first time this year, cited VnExpress.

But they have lost all four matches so far with regional giants Saudi Arabia, Australia, China and Oman proving too strong.

The host nation will play Japan on November 11 and have a rematch with Saudi Arabia on November 16.

Economic recovery may require non-traditional solutions

In the context of an unfeasible zero Covid-19 strategy, living with the virus is considered to be the long-term future, meaning there must be a recovery scheme with higher, stronger, and even non-traditional solutions to bring the national economy out of the current tough situation.

According to the PROFIT500 Ranking - Top 500, a list of the most profitable enterprises in the country this year as announced by Vietnam Assessment Report Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Report), profits of local enterprises in the third quarter of are forecast to endure a sharp fall due. This is largely due to widespread social distancing measures caused by the lasting and challenging impact of the fourth wave of the pandemic that has disrupted recovery momentum.

Growth prospects of many sectors moving forward face great challenges when at least 70% of manufacturing factories based in the southern region have been forced to halt operations during the lockdown period. For operational factories, they must follow the "3 on-site" model, production, isolation, and on-site accommodation, and test for COVID-19 every three days, thereby resulting in high operating costs and forcing many sites to reduce capacity by up to 50%.

According to a number of economic experts, amid the unfeasible zero Covid-19 strategy, living with the pandemic must be considered the best long-term plan, meaning businesses must continue to adapt themselves to the latest context.

In order to ensure smooth production, the internal organizational process of firms, especially human resource-related activities, must undergo changes aimed at ensuring improvement to meet new requirements, VOV reported.

The fourth outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected production and business activities of most local businesses. Photo: VOV

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Cung, an economic expert, underlined the necessity of continuing to re-organize production activities, social life, and state management in a bid to ensure the safe and flexible adaptation to the pandemic. Indeed, livelihoods and lives can be viewed as two sides of the same coin as they both complement each other.

Moreover, it can be considered necessary to quickly recover and firmly consolidate the growth drivers of the national economy because many of them have been weakened. Additionally, resources must be utilized for the right purposes, right objects, and in an effective manner, he said.

“Solution needs to be specific, feasible and immediately and swiftly implemented within the set time limit. In a special context, non-traditional solutions can be considered," Dr. Cung stated.

He stressed the necessity of quickly developing a recovery program and accelerating growth over the coming years, with a particular focus on assessing the internal context frankly to warn about an uncertain outlook in the future.

“Compared to the 1999 and 2011 period, our policies are much better. At this time, we must spend heavily to support people, businesses and the whole economy. Regarding monetary policy, in addition to interest rate lowering policies, we can open the money supply, increase credit and provide special credit packages," Dr. Cung recommended.

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