The People’s Committee of Hoà Bình City, Hoà Bình Province, decided to apply social distancing for the whole city with a population of more than 135,000 people from midnight on Monday until further notice.

The move came after the COVID-19 pandemic showed complex developments in recent days.

Under the decision issued on Sunday, all meetings or gatherings of more than 20 people in a room (excluding meetings with voters) are banned.

People in the city were banned from gathering in groups of more than 10 people outside the workplace, schools or hospitals and they were told to keep a minimum distance of 2m among each other in public places, the decision said.

Local people were required to not go to other localities, the decision said.

All activities relating to religious rituals, beliefs, worship, sports and entertainment must be suspended, the decision said.

The city also suspended service providers from operation, except for providers of essential goods. Public transport activities were also limited. Funerals must be held with a minimal number of participants.

Bùi Quang Điệp, chairman of the committee, on Sunday night ordered agencies to quickly trace direct contacts (F1) of patients 3,273 and 3,274 in the city as well as people who contacted F1 cases for testing and quarantining.

On Monday morning, the city recorded two new cases of COVID-19, including a 2-year-old boy. Both of them were direct contacts of patients 3,273 and 3,274.

The residential areas of the four patients have been locked down. The city sprayed disinfectants and carry out pandemic prevention measures in the residence of the patients and surrounding households.

In another movement, the administration of Phúc Thọ District, Hà Nội, decided to lock down Hiệp Thuận Commune between midnight on Monday and May 30 after the commune recorded four cases of COVID-19 on Sunday.

Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune Nguyễn Xuân Tâm was tasked to mobilise forces to bring the pandemic under control in the commune, the district said. 

Việt Nam witnesses the highest number of cases reported on a single day yesterday with 109 local infections among the 112 new cases announced by the health ministry in its 6am and midday reports

HCM City braces for possible COVID outbreak

Health workers take samples for COVID-19 testing from an employee at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Ho Chi Minh City has set up four more facilities to increase its mandatory COVID-19 quarantine capacity to more than 10,000 beds amid the recent alarming rise in transmission.

Speaking at a recent meeting, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc said the city is geared to cope with a major outbreak.

The testing capacity can be ramped up quickly to 30,000-40,000 tests a day from the current 15,000.

The city is also preparing to treat 100-200 cases daily if required.

Duc called on the heads of agencies to prepare to act quickly to trace people who come in close contact with patients.

Inspection teams will step up surprise checks of manufacturing facilities, markets, commercial centres, bus stations, education and training facilities, and centralised quarantine facilities to ensure they follow all preventive measures.

Local authorities have been told to closely monitor closed gyms and fitness centres, bars, karaoke parlours, cinemas, discotheques, and wedding centres and all events attended by more than 30 people, and impose heavy fines if they detect violations.

Businesses that are allowed to remain open are required to strictly comply with the Ministry of Health’s safety criteria.

“Lax management and oversight can result in outbreaks,” Duc warned.

Voluntary blood donation is allowed to continue normally./.

Quang Nam on alert for travellers from Da Nang due to COVID-19

All people returning from Đà Nẵng must make a health declaration and isolate at home upon arriving in Quảng Nam Province from Monday.

Seven COVID-19 medical checkpoints were set up in bordering areas between the province and Đà Nẵng over the weekend.

The provincial COVID-19 steering committee released the notice on Sunday, noting that the area's two newest SARS-COV-2 positive cases on Saturday were infected from Amida beauty salon and the New Phương Đông bar in Đà Nẵng.

To prevent the spread of the virus, Quảng Nam is only allowing online service for coffee shops and restaurants in Hội An City from Monday (May 10), while all tourism services and mass gathering activities were stopped last week.

Thừa Thiên-Huế Province officially locked down Phong Hiền Commune in Phong Điền District and Phước Lộc and Phước An villages in Phú Lộc District as two SARS-COV-2 cases were reported on Sunday evening.

A road checkpoint to control people travelling from Đà Nẵng to Huế and Quảng Nam. Photo courtesy of Dinh Bach
Đà Nẵng reported on Monday that 1,376 out of 1,500 samples of staff working at the city's Administrative Centre tested negative for SARS-COV-2 for the first time.

Testing and tracing of close contacts and indirect communication cases have been sped up in the city to quarantine people effectively.

A 16-storey F-Home building in the city’s downtown area was also locked down as positive cases were found there last week.

Vietnamese embassy members in Ukraine infected with Covid-19

Up to 13 members of seven families at the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine have been infected with Covid-19, reported Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thach.

According to the ambassador, the embassy has 11 families of staff with seven among those having members infected with Covid-19.

Twelve among the 13 patients were sent to hospital for treatment while the remainder stayed at home for self-treatment based on doctors’ instruction.

The embassy staff cooked meals and then brought food for the patients at hospital every day.

The ambassador and his family members were also Covid-19 patients.

Thach added that the patients were also discharged after the three-week stay at hospital.

The diplomat advised people not to be too anxious when contracting the virus. It is important to strictly conform to Covid-19 prevention regulations.

He highly appreciated the great unity of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine. The embassy has received much assistance from the community.

Ukraine is currently witnessing around 8,000 Covid-19 cases per day, raising the country’s total Covid-19 infections to 1.7 million, including nearly 46,000 deaths.

Public security forces ready to ensure safety of general election

Preparations for the May 23 general elections have so far been basically completed in a thorough, comprehensive and synchronous manner, said Chief of the Office of the Ministry of Public Security Lieut Gen To An Xo.

He made the statement in an interview recently granted to the Vietnam News Agency about security and order protection for the upcoming election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels.

He said since July 2020, the Public Security Central Party Committee has made ensuring absolute safety and order for the elections the key political task of the entire political security forces.

Public security forces nationwide have kept close monitoring of the process of election preparation and organisation work, prevented issues related to security and social order, deterred and defeated plots and acts that could violate national security and sabotage the election.

In the next few days, the entire forces will be put on the highest alert to ensure absolute security and safety of the elections in any circumstance, he said.

In order to fulfill the task, they will continue monitoring and making accurate forecast on the situation in each area and each constituency, preventing and foiling every plot sabotaging the election.

Additionally, they will maintain other regular tasks as well as actively work in the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, Xo affirmed./.

Da Nang prepares plans for increasing COVID-19 infections

Secretary of the Party Committee of Da Nang Nguyen Van Quang has ordered the local authorities to well prepare plans for an increase in COVID-19 infections in the central city.

Speaking at an online meeting hosted by the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on May 9, Quang highly valued localities, agencies, departments and sectors in quickly implementing timely and effective measures to prevent and control the pandemic.

He suggested units and localities establish more concentrated quarantine areas to meet the demand of COVID-19 prevention.

Quang also stressed the need to strictly handle violations related COVID-19 prevention regulations, prepare medical supplies, and set up inter-sectorial delegations to remind and inspect the disease prevention work in local businesses.

For his part, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh said Da Nang must pay more attention to accelerating contact tracing, quarantine and testing work, as well as preparing medical supplies to serve disease prevention.

According to the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Da Nang confirmed 31 more cases tested positive for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once in the past 24 hours to 14:00 on May 9. All of them were put under quarantine.

The city has so far recorded 34 areas related to COVID-19 infections. Lockdown has been imposed in 24 areas in the city.

Vietnam reported 80 new COVID-19 cases on May 10 morning, including 78 domestic infections and two imported.

The new infections took to the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 3,412, including 411 locally-transmitted infections detected since the latest outbreak hit the country on April 27./.

Local airlines raise management fees

Some local air carriers such as Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Vasco and Bamboo Airways will increase their management fees by up to VND100,000 per passenger.

Carriers of Vietnam Airlines Group, including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and Vasco, will raise their management fees by VND100,000 to VND350,000-450,000 per passenger for all domestic flights from May 9.

Bamboo Airways will raise management fees by VND90,000 to VND460,000 for groups of passengers and to VND410,000 for individual passengers from May 10.

The airline will not raise the fees for some special groups of passengers and combos valid before May 10, including Combo Chill, business card and trip card.

The latest fee adjustments of local airlines were made in the second quarter of 2020. Low-cost carrier Vietjet raised its management fee to VND310,000 per ticket. Bamboo Airways raised its fee from VND210,000 to VND320,000 per ticket, while that of Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines increased to VND350,000 from VND250,000 per ticket.

At present, the domestic airfares comprise ticket, value added tax, screening fee, passenger service fee, management fee and fuel surcharge.

Value added tax is fixed and will be sent to the State budget. Screening fee and passenger service fee will be submitted to the management units of airport facilities, while management fees vary from one airline to the other.

UNFPA helping Vietnam ensure safety, happiness for ethnic minority mothers, children: Representative

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been working closely with relevant ministries and sectors to identify the most effective strategies to assist Vietnam in creating a safe and happy environment for mothers and children, including those in ethnic minority and disadvantaged areas.

So said UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Naomi Kitahara in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency during a trip to the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau from May 4 to 7.

Officials from the UNFPA, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment surveyed maternal health care in some disadvantaged ethnic minority areas of Lai Chau.

Pointing out two big challenges to maternal health care in ethnic minority areas of Vietnam, Kitahara noted that ethnic minority people mostly reside in remote areas, which hampers their access to reproductive and sexual health services, while their ethnic groups’ special cultural and social conditions also make it difficult to provide guidance on and apply reproductive and sexual health care measures.

She underlined the need to increase communications and guidance in ethnic minority languages, adding that medical workers and midwives should also speak local languages to give explanation.

The UNFPA always exerts efforts to ensure that there won’t be more maternal deaths, all demand for family planning is met, and gender-based violence and harmful practices are prevented.

It has been working closely with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and other ministries and sectors to identify the most effective strategies to assist Vietnam, with a focus on vulnerable groups like ethnic minority people, migrants, the youth, and the disabled, the UNFPA Representative said.

In efforts to support ethnic minority people, some of the main strategies suggested by the UNFPA include improving health workers’ capacity so that they are capable of dealing with different obstetric problems and diseases, and capitalising on online communications platforms and tele-guidance systems to overcome difficulties caused by special cultural and social conditions, the language barrier, and geographical distance, according to Kitahara.

Highlighting the importance of village-based midwives and communications to improve public awareness and behaviour, she also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing major challenges when expectant mothers tend to delay or skip pregnancy tests, posing high risks during their pregnancy.

She stressed the necessity to create a safe environment for expectant mothers so that they can feel safe when visiting healthcare establishments, and to provide protective equipment for medical workers to safely perform their duties.

By combining those strategies, the UNFPA is confident of helping reduce the maternal mortality, its representative added./.

Southeast Asian countries continue struggling with pandemic

Malaysia has tightened measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including extending the ban on inter-state travel to June 6.

Senior Minister and Minister of Defence Ismail Sabri Yaakob also said social activities, education and economic activities that could attract public gatherings are not allowed in the period.

From May 10, all Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars in movement control (MCO) areas will be closed.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Malaysia has surged over the past two days at more than 4,000 each day, reaching a three-month high of 4,519 on May 8.

Thailand’s health authorities announced 2,201 new cases on May 8, raising the total to 83,375, with 399 deaths./.

Top legislator attends ground-breaking of national highway upgrade in Hai Phong

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and his entourage attended the ground-breaking ceremony of a project on upgrading 13.4 km of the National Highway 10 in the northern city of Hai Phong on May 8 afternoon.

The upgrade of the section spanning from Da Bac to Kien bridges has a total investment of 1.22 trillion VND (53.3 million USD) funded by the local budget.

The stretch will be expanded to six lanes, allowing a maximum speed of 80km per hour. Scheduled to finish in September 2022, the project is expected to help ease congestion during peak hours and prevent traffic accidents on the route.

More than 1,000 households have been relocated to make way for the project.

Previously, a 30-km section of the expressway from Quan Toan to Nghin Bridges has been upgraded and put into operation.

Later the same day, Hue visited and offered incense at the memorial house dedicated to Nguyen Duc Canh, an outstanding student of President Ho Chi Minh and a co-founder of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He was also the founder of the Tong Cong Hoi Do Bac Ky (Red Workers' General Union in Northern Vietnam), the predecessor of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, and the first Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee./.

Struggle for justice for Agent Orange victims to continue

Participants in a May 8 roundtable talk, including Vietnamese-French woman Tran To Nga, who is pursuing a lawsuit against the US companies that provided the chemical toxins used by the US army during the war in Vietnam, affirmed the resolve to continue the fight for justice for Agent Orange (AO)/ dioxin victims of Vietnam regardless of the court’s rulings.

The talk in Ho Chi Minh City was among activities of a project calling for support for Nga’s legal action. She attended the event from France via videoconferencing.

After the lawsuit against the US chemical companies filed by the Vietnam Association for Victims of AO (VAVA) in 2004 had not ended with a desired result, Nga, born in 1942, sued these firms in the Crown Court of France’s Evry city in 2014.

The court opened a hearing on this case on January 25 this year and is expected to issue the verdict on May 10.

Nga graduated from a Hanoi university in 1966 and became a war correspondent of the Liberation News Agency. She worked in some of the most heavily AO/dioxin affected areas in southern Vietnam, such as Cu Chi, Ben Cat, and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, ultimately experiencing contamination herself.

Of her three children, the first died of heart defects and the second suffers from a blood disease. She has also contracted a number of acute diseases.

With the support of several non-governmental organisations, she accused the companies of causing lasting harm to the health of herself, her children, and countless others, and of destroying the environment.

Talking via videoconference, Nga, who is currently in France, said regardless of the rulings to be issued by the court, the 10-year struggle will still continue, noting that she and her friends have been prepared to keep going for many more years.

The strength of justice and the truth will win, she stated.

Used to be a plaintiff in the VAVA’s 2004 lawsuit in the US, VAVA Vice President Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong said though the previous lawsuit did not come to a success, it has left a great impact on the people in the US and the world as a whole.

The fight for justice will continue, she went on, expressing her belief in final victory. She stressed that this is a historic lawsuit and its win will become a legal precedent for AO/dioxin victims in Vietnam and other countries to seek justice for themselves.

Truong Trong Nghia, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Bar Federation, pointed out that compared to the 2004 lawsuit in the US, Nga’s lawsuit has certain advantages, elaborating that the French court on January 25 announced that it has the power and legal ground to deal with this case.

Besides, a recent lawsuit against a chemical company filed by a farm worker who was exposed to herbicide in France ended in the worker’s favour. This precedent is favourable for Nga’s case.

People in France also support and hope that Nga will win in her lawsuit, Nghia added.

Ton Nu Thi Ninh, Vice President of the Vietnam Peace Committee and President of the HCM City Peace and Development Foundation, stressed the must for persistence since the purpose is not only to seek compensation but also to force the US side to admit the truth and its responsibility.

So far, more than 4 million Vietnamese people have been exposed to AO/dioxin while 100,000 children have suffered from deformities. The AO causes lasting harms to humans and the environment. Scientists found that this substance not only affects the ones exposed to it but also many following generations, depending on its concentration in the body, according to Vu Thi Quyen, a lecturer in biology at the Van Lang University./.

First Vietnamese COVID-19 patient dies in Laos

The Embassy of Vietnam in Laos’ Vientiane confirmed that a Vietnamese person with COVID-19 had died after a week of treatment.

The patient, who is a 52-year-old woman, is the first Vietnamese COVID-19 patient in Laos and also the first COVID-19 patient in the country to die of the disease, according to the embassy.

The patient moved to Laos early last year and worked at a karaoke bar in Vientiane, one of the locations connected to Patient 59, who was believed to have caused this outbreak of COVID-19 in Laos.

The patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus on April 28 and had other medical conditions. On April 30, the patient was admitted for treatment at Setthathirath Hospital in Vientiane.

On May 8, when the patient had a bad prognosis, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos asked the Ministry of Health of Vietnam to support Setthathirath Hospital through a remote medical examination and treatment system.

However, the patient died at around 1am on May 9.

Currently, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos is cooperating with the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane and the local authorities to support the patient's family./.

Archaeological excavation, research at Hoa Lu ancient capital reviewed

Archaeological excavation and research at the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and other sites in the northern province of Ninh Binh were reviewed at a recent workshop held by the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, the Institute of Archaeology, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

Held as part of activities responding to the Visit Vietnam Year 2021, participants at the workshop lauded the results of the endeavour, saying it has contributed to preserving and promoting the values of cultural heritages in Ninh Binh.

The excavation work has revealed unique architecture at Hoa Lu, which vividly reflect national construction and defence as well as royal cultural life, and the formation and development of the locality’s administrative system during the 10th century.

Five excavation areas and three exploration pits on a total area of 300 sq.m were studied, revealing architectural layers from the Dai La and Dinh - Tien Le Dynasties.

At brick tombs in Nho Quan and Gia Vien districts, initial research results noted that these were tombs from the Eastern Han Dynasty, proving the development of culture, economy, and politics and clarifying how Hoa Lu was established and developed.

Research results initially recognised that the inner city of Hoa Lu in the 10th century had a much larger distribution area of architectural works than experts and researchers previously imagined.

At the workshop, research and excavation units proposed adjustments to land use planning and the detailed plan for the conservation - embellishment and promotion of specially-protected areas in the ancient capital, which were approved by the provincial People’s Committee in 2009, to serve research, excavation, and conservation in the time to come./.

Social distancing imposed on one district in Bac Ninh province due to COVID-19

The People’s Committee of northern Bac Ninh province has applied social distancing measures throughout Thuan Thanh district , starting from 2pm on May 9, in the face of complex developments of COVID-19 there over the past few days.

As of May 9 morning, Thuan Thanh was home to 37 out of the total 46 locally infected cases of COVID-19 detected in Bac Ninh province in the latest outbreak that began in late April.

Anti-COVID-19 measures will be strictly applied across the district as in line with the Prime Minister’s Directive No 16/CT-TTg, issued on March 31, 2020, including requesting people to only go outside for essential reasons like buying food and medicine, seeking emergency aid, and going to work; no gatherings of more than two people outside workplaces, schools, hospitals, and in public places; and keeping a distance of at least two metres from each other.

The period of social distancing will depend on developments of the outbreak.

Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Huong Giang also demanded public activities, entertainment establishments, mass gatherings, and non-essential services in Thuan Thanh be suspended, public passenger transport from the district to other localities be halted, and personal vehicles’ movement be minimised.

However, she also requested ensuring smooth transportation of goods and production materials./.

Top legislator meets voters in Hai Phong city

Chairman of the 14th National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue and four other candidates of Hai Phong city’s Constituency No 3 in the coming election of the 15th parliament met with voters in Vinh Bao and An Lao districts on May 9.

The northern city’s Constituency No 3 covers the districts of Kien An, Duong Kinh, An Lao, Tien Lang, and Vinh Bao.

After representatives of the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee gave a brief introduction of the candidates’ biographies, the candidates presented their programmes of actions if they are elected. Local voters also expressed their opinions and aspirations.

Noting his action plan, Hue said if elected, as an NA deputy of Hai Phong, he will keep close contact with local voters to learn about their wishes, honestly reflect their opinions to the parliament and State agencies, and deal with citizens’ complaints, denunciations, and petitions in a timely and effective manner.

He and the other candidates promised to work to push reforms to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the legislature’s activities, and promote democracy, proactiveness, creativity, and transparency, thus ensuring that the NA is truly the supreme representative organ of the people and the supreme organ of the State power in Vietnam.

They vowed to keep a close watch on the socio-economic situation of Hai Phong, as well as of the districts they represent, coordinate with all-level authorities of the city, and propose specific solutions to successfully carry out the Politburo’s Resolution No 45-NQ/TW, issued on January 24, 2019, on the development of Hai Phong by 2030 with a vision to 2045, along with the resolution of the 16th municipal Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure.

The elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure are slated for May 23./.

Coast guards, local people join hands to clean up beach

Cleaning up the beach and planting trees are among the many activities held within the “Clean the beach” campaign of the Coast Guard Command and the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang in recent times. The campaign aims to raise awareness about environmental and sovereignty protection in coastal localities around Vietnam.

Tan Thanh Beach in Go Cong Dong district in Tien Giang province attracts many tourists in the Mekong Delta, but this results in large volumes of garbage.

Coast Guard officers and soldiers, young people, and local people spent an entire morning cleaning up garbage from the coast, which stretches more than 5 km.

The coast was cleared and hundreds of trees planted, creating a natural barrier protecting the coast from erosion caused by wind and waves.

Lessons on environmental protection come from reality and are taught to local people and children through many activities, such as the “I love the islands of the homeland” contest, where students are provided with knowledge on the seas and islands and the importance of preserving the marine environment and protecting sovereignty over the islands.

Education about seas and islands is a task conducted regularly by the Vietnam Coast Guard over past years in coastal cities and provinces nationwide. It not only enhances people’s understanding of seas and islands but also increases the community’s sense of responsibility in preserving the environment and the sovereignty of islands.

Vietnam is a coastal country with a coastline stretching 3,260 km, boasting precious resources. Understanding the country’s seas and islands helps everyone improve their sense of responsibility for protecting, preserving, and promoting the values of national seas and islands./.

Top legislator meets voters in Hai Phong city

Chairman of the 14th National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue and four other candidates of Hai Phong city’s Constituency No 3 in the coming election of the 15th parliament met with voters in Vinh Bao and An Lao districts on May 9.

The northern city’s Constituency No 3 covers the districts of Kien An, Duong Kinh, An Lao, Tien Lang, and Vinh Bao.

After representatives of the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee gave a brief introduction of the candidates’ biographies, the candidates presented their programmes of actions if they are elected. Local voters also expressed their opinions and aspirations.

Noting his action plan, Hue said if elected, as an NA deputy of Hai Phong, he will keep close contact with local voters to learn about their wishes, honestly reflect their opinions to the parliament and State agencies, and deal with citizens’ complaints, denunciations, and petitions in a timely and effective manner.

He and the other candidates promised to work to push reforms to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the legislature’s activities, and promote democracy, proactiveness, creativity, and transparency, thus ensuring that the NA is truly the supreme representative organ of the people and the supreme organ of the State power in Vietnam.

They vowed to keep a close watch on the socio-economic situation of Hai Phong, as well as of the districts they represent, coordinate with all-level authorities of the city, and propose specific solutions to successfully carry out the Politburo’s Resolution No 45-NQ/TW, issued on January 24, 2019, on the development of Hai Phong by 2030 with a vision to 2045, along with the resolution of the 16th municipal Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure.

The elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure are slated for May 23./.

Inauguration attendees without facemasks to face disciplinary measure

Deputy Office Chief of the Binh Thuan Province People's Committee Nguyen Duc Hai Tung yesterday signed a document, which has been sent to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, proposing the department to check the information saying attendees at the inauguration of Hon Cau Marine Reserve did not wear masks and took part in a barbeque on the beach after the opening ceremony.

As per residents’ report to the People's Committee of Binh Thuan Province, the attendees at the Hon Cau Marine Reserve’s opening ceremony did not wear facemasks on May 8 according to Covid-19 prevention regulations. Furthermore, these attendees gathered in a barbeque on the beach after the opening ceremony.

Chairman of Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee has assigned the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to inspect the case.

Under the chairman’s direction, all organization and individuals involving in the case will face disciplinary measures. The Department must submit a report to the Chairman of Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee on May 11.

Previously, on May 7, the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province issued an official document on enhancing the strict implementation of measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic in the new situation. In which, the authority requested to suspend all unnecessary conferences and meetings.

People must adhere to the 5K message including wearing masks, strictly sanctioning people, tourists, officials, public servants and public employees who do not wear masks in public places. Particularly, employees of public organizations who do not comply with wearing masks will receive disciplinary measures in addition to administrative sanctions according to the present regulations.

Lam Dong advises tourists not to visit Da Lat due to pandemic risk

The authorities of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has issued a travel advisory to let visitors know about safety concerns that may affect travel to Da Lat City.

The provincial government has encouraged tourists to consider carefully before deciding to travel and against any non-essential trip to the flower town in these days due to the extraordinary circumstances related to Covid-19 pandemic.

Additionally, forms of entertainment and recreational facilities, including bars, karaoke parlors, discos, online game shops, night markets, beauty & spa, massage parlors, cinemas, music venues, gym centers, pools, billiard clubs, barber shops, yoga classes have been required to temporarily close from 0.00 am on May 9.

Restriction on mass gatherings and community events of more than 30 people has been established. The provincial authority also encourages residents to limit unnecessary travel limit the spread of Covid-19 disease.

In the morning of May 9, the Department of Health of Lam Dong Province announced that the total number of 329 samples taken from people who contacted Covid-19 patient No.3141.

Buddhists in Vietnam asked to suspend crowded religious services 

Abbots of pagodas would be responsible for violations of safety measures.

The Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam on May 8 asked pagodas and Buddhist monasteries to closely follow precautionary measures in the face of the fresh coronavirus outbreak.

Pagodas need to stop crowded prayers and rituals until the next notice of the local governments.

Monks and nuns across the country need to obey the safety guidance released by the prime minister, the Ministry of Health, and the municipal and provincial peoples' committees.

In places deemed safe, the hosting of some services if allowed by local authorities must ensure the 5K-measure protocol including masking – disinfection – distance – medical declaration.

The safety guidance must be obeyed on the preparations for the Vesak 2021 [the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May - the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world as it was the day the Buddha was born two and a half millennia ago] or the 2556 year in the Buddhist calendar.

Notably, abbots of Buddhist monasteries need to cooperate with local authorities to disseminate preventive measures among followers and residents. Administrators must be responsible before the Buddhist Sangha for any violation of safety protocols.

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Buddhism in Vietnam has more than 11 million followers, over 17,000 worshiping facilities, nearly 47,000 dignitaries, four Buddhist Institutes, nine Buddhist colleges, and 31 Intermediate schools.

Due to the pandemic, the year 2565 (Buddhist Era), Buddhists throughout the world normally celebrate online the birth, the enlightenment, and the passing away to parinibanna of Gautama Buddha on Vesak Day. They send a Buddhist webcard to their friends.

Vietnam reactivates task forces as Covid-19 sweeps dozens of cities  

Members of the response teams are health professionals from leading hospitals.

Vietnam has reactivated Rapid Response Team (RRT) against Covid-19 as the pandemic is sweeping 19 cities and provinces after 10 days.

The 45 teams, which was set up in January 2020, is aimed to quickly respond to acute respiratory infections.

The RRT’s missions included providing quick response and technical support for hospitals on the treatment of patients and control of infection at health facilities.

At the local level, each Department of Health established two RRTs. Each RRT comprised a hospital leader, emergency resuscitation specialized doctor, infectious disease specialist, infectious disease control officer, emergency resuscitation or an infectious disease specialized nurse and a driver.

In the wake of the outbreak, the Ministry of Health also provided some emergency numbers 19009095 and 19003228 to address inquiries and concerns, in addition to the local hotlines for counseling.

Vietnam could be one of the role models in Covid-19 control for low-resource settings largely thanks to its quick response to the pandemic.

In another move, some cities and provinces have also reactivated the Community Covid-19 Prevention Teams to support other forces in the fight against the pandemic.

Each group usually has 2-5 people who are civilian volunteers, villagers, heads of residential areas, members of unions, among others. Depending on actual conditions, each group is in charge of some 40 to 60 households.

They will report to authorized officials developments relating to Covid-19 like travel history to affected areas and people of symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness in breath. They also disseminate the 5K-measure protocol like masking – disinfection – distance – no gathering – and medical declaration.

Prof. Tran Nhu Duong, deputy director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), stressed the importance of the teams for their updated and close supervision on the pandemic movement in the locality, saying that the Covid-19 fight needs the contribution of the people, of each individual and household.

As Covid-19 has attacked nine hospitals across Vietnam, top leaders have demanded tough measures to protect health workers.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam who is head of the National Standing Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on May 7 asked hospitals nationwide to take tough measures to prevent the transmission of coronavirus while the affected clinics need to be isolated to stop the spread of pandemic.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long urged hospitals to screen all high-risk groups coming to the hospitals and regularly testing medical staff, patients and their relatives.

Meanwhile, hospitals are advised to limit the visit by patient relatives.

Hanoi’s candidates for upcoming general elections turn to online electioneering  

Online electioneering helps protect the community amid the Covid-19 pandemic and remains an effective communication channel between voters and candidates ahead of the general elections.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong and other candidates standing for the 15th National Assembly election [term 2021-2026] under Hanoi’s constituency No.1 on May 8 carried out online electioneering.

The online event was streamlined from the headquarter of Ba Dinh district People’s Council to 53 wards under three districts of Ba Dinh, Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung with the participation of over 2,400 voters.

Meanwhile, those joined the face-to-face meeting were required to strictly comply with anti-Covid-19 measures by using hand sanitizers, keeping safe distance, wearing face masks and declaring health information. 

“Amid the serious Covid-19 situation in Hanoi, the local authorities decided to hold the electioneering online,” said Chairwoman of the Ba Dinh district Vietnam Fatherland Front.

On the past few days, other constituencies of No.3, 5 and 6 had also held online campaigning.

“Such format has been effective and helps protect the community by avoiding mass gathering during the pandemic,” said Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diem, a voter at Nguyen Du ward, Hai Ba Trung district.

“Nevertheless, voters are still able to meet candidates, listen to their respective action programs and later exchange opinions,” she added.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front – Hanoi chapter Nguyen Lan Huong said online electioneering is a necessary step given the Covid-19 resurgence in a number of countries, including Vietnam.

“The government urges high alert in the Covid-19 fight, especially as the entire political system is preparing for the election of deputies for the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-26 period,” said Huong.

On May 23, 2021, voters nationwide will go to the polls to elect members of the 15th National Assembly and the People's Councils at all levels for the term 2021 - 2026. 

Hanoi, the city of roughly 10 million people, has around 5.8 million voters.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau: Agricultural mechanisation benefits local farmers

The mechanisation of agriculture is currently popular among farmers in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau as this trend has contributed to reducing farming costs and increasing their income.

During the 2020-2021 Winter-Spring crop, the Farmers' Association of Long Dien district cooperated with the Ho Chi Minh City-based Snewrice Joint Stock Company in using drones to spray plant protection chemicals on more than 30 hectares of rice in An Nhut commune. This has helped increase labour productivity by 15-30 times, shorten spraying time, and reduce 30 percent of used pesticide amount compared to normal spraying.

According to Huynh Trung Thanh, Director of the An Nhut Agriculture - Service Cooperative in Long Dien district, spraying with drones not only saves water and pesticides, but also helps reduce rice yield loss from 150-200 kg per hectare compared with that of normal spraying.

In addition, members of the cooperative are also promoting mechanisation in other farming tasks. To date, they have mechanised the entire process of soil preparations and harvesting with different types of machines.

According to statistics from the local agricultural sector, at present, the province has more than 105,000 agricultural machines of 400 types serving the mechanisation of agricultural production, mainly focusing on such stages as soil preparations, irrigation, spraying of pesticides, transportation and exploitation of aquatic products.

Vu Ngoc Dang, Deputy Director of the Rural Development Sub-Department of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, said that the sub-department has so far provided more than 300 machines and equipment to more than 250 households and cooperatives.

In the coming time, the department will coordinate with localities to continue checking and counting the number of available machines and equipment so as to make production plans with the focus on developing plants and animals which the province has strengths and competitiveness and in accordance with its development planning./

New hot spell strikes, temperatures rise to 38-39

Northern provinces are enduring a fresh heat wave, starting on May 10, as temperatures are forecast to reach peaks of up to 38 degrees Celsius, according to the national weather forecasting authority.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported a hot low-pressure area originating from the west is heading for the nation’s northern region, causing temperatures to rise quickly.

The hot spell is set to spread to the northwestern, northern mountainous, and central regions, with temperatures going up to between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius or even to 39 degrees Celsius in some locations over the next few days.

In Hanoi capital, temperatures are set to rapidly rise from May 10 to reach highs of 36 – 37 degrees Celsius at around midday.

Although high temperatures will fall between midday and 5 p.m., the region will also endure a period of low humidity at around 50% to 60%, and there will be a slight chance of thunderstorms and rain occurring.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned that the hot weather causes exhaustion and heat stroke when people work outside for a long period of time. 

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes

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