Vietnam will impose quarantine time to one week instead of three for incoming people who got two shots of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Subsequent medical surveillance for one week will also be required for those who enter Vietnam via all international terminals like border gates, airports, seaports.

People who are subject to the new regulations need to show vaccination certificates issued within one year prior to the entry. Types of vaccines are those approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Vietnam.

In addition, those who recovered from Covid-19 with negative testing results certified by the countries where they were treated will be eligible for the one-week quarantine.

Two quarantine options are available including barrack squares and hotels.

Self-defense militia gets a jab in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: District 11 Hospital

More health professionals for Ho Chi Minh City

Nearly 3,000 health professionals from 16 big hospitals in Hanoi, including the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT), the National Children’s Hospital, the National Geriatric Hospital, National Maternity Hospital, National Hospital of Endocrinology, will soon leave for Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

On August 4, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue met the delegation’s representatives to give them some words of encouragement.

So far, the Ministry of Health has sent more than 4,000 health workers from more than 40 hospitals in Hanoi and other provinces, mainly in the north, and over 5,000 volunteers to the largest city.

To support the health workers, HCMC authorities have decided to offer bonuses varying between VND1.5 million (US$65) and VND10 million (US$434) each/month for frontline workers who join the fight against Covid-19 in the city.

In another move, health professionals from leading hospitals in Hanoi are speeding up the building of intensive care units in HCMC to put them into operations as soon as possible.

Hanoi sets up a "green zone" (safety zone). Photo: Khanh Huy/ Phap Luat Xa Hoi

Hanoi

Hanoi continues reporting dozens of community infections and tightening control is the must-do measure that the city’s leaders have emphasized.

It is managing to maintain the supply chain of essential goods after the closure of dozens of supermarkets, wet markets, and four wholesale markets, including the largest Long Bien in the downtown, due to Covid-19 transmission.

The city said it would kick off a network of more than 2,500 mobile spots to sell essential goods citywide to ensure a smooth supply.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam warned Hanoi of widespread transmission and rising infections like the situation in HCMC when he worked with the local authorities today.

“We strive not to let the pandemic situation becomes worst like in Ho Chi Minh City and some other provinces, but we must also prepare for a worse situation so as not to be passive in combating the pandemic,” he said.

He stressed the need to keep safety zones, saying that it’s crucial in the long-term battle. “We need to encourage people in each area to keep “green areas” (safety zones). This is one of the keys to control the pandemic in the city,” Dam noted.

Daily infections

On August 4, the country reported additional 7,623 coronavirus infections, including 3,300 in HCMC, 2,143 in Binh Duong, 427 in Long An, and 389 in Dong Nai.

The newest cases have driven up the total to 177,813, including 30.55% have recovered. Covid-19 has claimed 2,327 deaths so far.

As of August 4, more than 7.29 million vaccine doses have been administered, with over 744,000 people fully inoculated.

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