Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has decided to change the Covid-19 treatment protocol that cuts the treatment levels to three from five before, according to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Huu Hung.

“The change will enable us to better treat patients on the critical list and provide treatment to more cases,” Hung told media on Monday [August 16].

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long (2nd right) works with doctors at a resuscitation center in Ho Chi Minh City on August 16. Photo: Thai Binh

The first-level treatment is for asymptomatic cases and index cases (F0) under home treatment. It’s reported that there are currently more than 23,000 F0 under home treatment and in centralized quarantine facilities.

The second level is to treat mild and those of emergency. This level is housing more than 49,000 patients.

At the third level, severe patients are treated at the leading hospitals and resuscitation centers run by health professionals of leading national hospitals from Hanoi. This level serves nearly 4,000 patients.

To date, about half of the city’s tally has recovered.

Funding more for vaccine trials

Vietnam’s Prime Minister agreed to spend VND9 billion (US$391,000) on Phase 1 and 2 trials of homegrown Covid-19 vaccine candidate COVIVAC.

The money is sourced from the Vietnam Fund for Vaccination Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (VFVC), which was set up in May 2021 to gather and manage domestic and international donations. So far, the fund has received VND8.57 trillion ($372 million).

Developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), COVIVAC is on Phase 2 trials. The trials of 3mcg and 6mcg will be on two groups aged above 18 and above 60.

COVIVAC is developed under the partnership between IVAC, the Mount Sinai Health System, the University of Texas, and the PATH organization.

Hanoi's police at a checkpoint in Dong Da District on August 16. Photo: Dat Le/ The Hanoi Times

Hanoi

Today, the city sees additional 50 cases, totaling 2,487.

Tightening precautionary measures and supporting vulnerable groups are the two main activities that Hanoi is focusing on during the lockdown.

The support is in line with the government’s request made by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam who said that different localities nationwide need to ensure food, housing, and medical support for local people so that they could rest assured to stay in place and follow precautionary measures.

On August 16, police began deploying 12 patrol teams to check people who go out unnecessarily. The patrols have been conducted in 12 urban districts namely Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Tay Ho, Long Bien, Cau Giay, Bac Tu Liem, Nam Tu Liem, Hoang Mai, Thanh Xuan, and Ha Dong.

Meanwhile, vehicles transporting essential goods are checked with QR Code to pass checkpoints.

Laborers with temporary residence in the city who face difficulties in accommodation have got assistance in the issue and benefited from other supporting programs by the local government. In addition, the city has maintained “zero dong” supermarkets to provide essential goods to people in need.

Earlier on July 14, Hanoi set up 23 checkpoints at the city’s entrance to mitigate the risk of transmission. At the same time, thousands of checkpoints have been set up at grassroots levels to both curb the spread of the virus and protect the “green zone” (safe zone).

Bach Dang road along Han River, Danang on August 16. Photo: Quang Hai/ The Hanoi Times

Danang

Danang and Nha Trang, two beach cities in the central region, have banned people from leaving their homes for a week starting from August 16 and August 14, respectively.

After 8:00 AM, all streets in Danang are deserted except for people on duty and police. The local authorities set up 200 mobile patrol teams to enforce the stay-at-home order.

Danang has imposed the lockdown under Directive 16 since July 31.

Directive 16 mandates strict social distancing, requiring closures of non-essential businesses, restaurants, bans public gatherings, and severely limits transportation services.

Today, Danang reports 90 more cases, the highest daily infections in the city, driving the total to more than 2,100. Meanwhile, Nha Trang has confirmed more than 2,200 cases.

Daily infections

Vietnam sees 8,652 coronavirus infections and 368 deaths over the past 24 hours, with the majority in Ho Chi Minh and Binh Duong.

To date, the active cases are more than 176,000 while the death toll stays at 6,141. Over 14.66 vaccine doses have been administered.

Today, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai decided to allocate more than 4,000 tons of rice from the national reserves to three provinces of Binh Phuoc, Bac Lieu, and Soc Trang.

Vietnam's Covid-19 cases. Source: MoH. Chart: Minh Vu