Transfering severe cases to the centrally run Hue hospital in Hue city (Photo:TTO)

The Ministry of Health on July 30 decided to dispatch more specialists to coronavirus hit Da Nang to help the central city efficiently deal with the virus outbreak.

They include specialists from the Department of Preventive Medicine, the Environment Management Department, the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, alongside the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute and Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute. 

They will work closely together with the three special working teams the Ministry of Health dispatched on July 25.

The ministry also decided to mobilize hundreds of students from Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy to get involved in the fight against COVID-19 in Da Nang.

The ministry has provided 10 ventilators and N95 respirators for hospitals in Da Nang and Hue.

The centrally-run Hue Hospital in Hue city has received 11 COVID-19 patients transferred from Da Nang under the Prime Minister’s instructions. One of the patient is in critical condition and is on a ventilator. 

Health Ministry issues emergency notice on 28 COVID-19 hotspots

A list of venues identified as possible COVID-19 hotspots nationwide has been released by the Ministry of Health.

Officials are asking anyone who has visited the locations during a specific time period to contact the authorities for assistance.

In the past week, there have been 42 new community transmissions, mainly in Đà Nẵng, but also cases in Quảng Nam, Hà Nội and HCM City.

The ministry has required those who visited the following areas during the mentioned timeframes to immediately contact local centres for disease control and prevention for guidance on health monitoring.

In Đà Nẵng:

Doll House Cafeteria in 1 Nguyễn Văn Thoại Road in Sơn Trà District between July 12 and 14
Huỳnh Gia Ngư Hotel in 169 Nguyễn Văn Thoại Road in Sơn Trà District between July 12 and 13
Cọ Xanh Restaurant in Mỹ Khê Beach on July 12
Rơm Food & Drink Restaurant in 114 Nguyễn Văn Thoại Road on July 12 and 13
Bà Nà Hill in Hoà Ninh Commune in Hoà Vang District on July 13
OQ Lounge Pub DnD in 18 Bạch Đằng Road in Hải Châu District on July 13
Vân Avocado Ice Cream in Bắc Mỹ An Market on July 14
Mining Book Coffee in 54 Hà Văn Tính Road in Liên Chiểu District on July 17-18 and July 22 and 27
KANE-M Đà Nẵng Co,Ltd in Liên Chiểu District between July 17-22 and on July 27
Big C Đà Nẵng Supermarket in 257 Hùng Vương Road on July 18 and July 26
An Ngãi Đông Church in Âu Cơ Road in Hoà Vang District on July 19
Mới Market in 212 Hoàng Diệu Road in Hải Châu District between July 20 and 22
Tâm Phúc Vegetarian Restaurant in 132 Quang Trung Road in Hải Châu District between July 24 and 26
142 Restaurant in Quang Trung Road in Hải Châu District between July 24 and 26
Quảng Tuý Loan Noodle Restaurant in Quang Trung Road in Hải Châu District between July 24 and 26
Laundery service store in 95 Hải Phòng Road in Hải Châu District between July 24 and 16
Vinmart Supermarket in 114 Quang Trung Road in Hải Châu District on July 25
Passenger bus from Đà Nẵng to Buôn Ma Thuột on July 26 and from Đà Nẵng to Đắk Lắk Inter-provincial bus station on July 27
In Quảng Nam:

Bánh mì Phượng in 2B Phan Chu Trinh Road in Hội An Town on July 14
Hội An Silk Marina Resort & Spa in August 18 Road in Hội An Town on July 24-25
Hội An Ancient Town between July 24 and 25
In Hà Nội:

Đà Nẵng – Hà Nội flight VN166 and VN168 on July 15
Pizza Al Fresco's in 106 Trần Thái Tông Street between July 16 and 22
Nam Xuân Drug Store in 274 Mễ Trì Thượng Street on July 24
Thái Hà Health Clinic in 178 Thái Hà Street on July 28
In HCM City:

Triều An Hospital in 425 Kinh Dương Vương Street in Bình Tân District on July 21
City International Hospital in 17A Street in Bình Tân District between July 21-22
Thanh Danh 2 Hotel in 624 Nguyễn Chí Thanh Road in District 11 on July 21-22
AEON MALL Bình Tân in Bình Tân District between July 22-26
The ministry has required people visiting these places to send their personal information and those in close contact with them to the telephone number 888.

In addition, all those who have been at these places are asked to call the hotlines 0905108844 (Đà Nẵng Centre for Disease Control), 0914085388 (Quảng Nam Centre for Disease Control), 0969082115/0949396115 (Hà Nội Centre for Disease Control), or 0869577133 (HCM City Centre for Disease Control) to give health authorities the phone numbers of the people who have come into close contact with them. 

Hanoi committed to sufficient goods supply amid COVID-19

The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade in Hanoi has mapped out three scenarios in which to ensure a sufficient supply of goods, totaling VND194 trillion in value, for citizens amid the latest novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

It has also devised a plan aimed at storing more goods in order to assist provinces and cities in the Northern Delta region.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Tran Thi Phuong Lan said the capital has asked various districts and communes to carry out efforts to ensure the support of goods for local people.

It has arranged more than 2,100 venues at culture houses, sport centres and many other places to help businesses have access to more stockpiles.

The city is committed to expanding the sales network and creating favourable conditions for retail businesses to connect with food suppliers and transporters.

Most notably, the department has allowed 925 vehicles owned by various businesses to operate around the clock in a bid to provide the essential goods and medical supplies necessary to local people.

Furthermore, 155 vehicles carrying essential goods have been permitted to operate throughout the night and during the day in inner city areas.

The department has asked the Hanoi Market Management Agency to strengthen market inspection in order to prevent speculation and unreasonable price hikes, especially in relation to essential goods and medical equipment.

Danang closes all eateries amid pandemic outbreak

Authorities of the central city of Danang have requested to temporarily suspend all local restaurants and coffee shops for Covid-19 prevention.

Under the municipal authorities’ decision issued on Wednesday evening, the suspension, including the online business and takeout offering, has been applied since 1 pm today, July 30.  

Meanwhile, local construction sites have to conform to Covid-19 prevention regulations, including sterilisation, mask use and social distancing.

Wards and communes have been asked to co-operate with the health sector to detect suspected Covid-19 cases for testing and quarantined.

Danang has been the first locality in Vietnam to have the Covid-19 community transmission since April 16.

Since July 25, Vietnam has recorded a total of 43 Covid-19 community infection patients in six localities namely Danang, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Dak Lak, HCM City and Hanoi, with up to 34 in Danang.

Three hospitals in Danang have been quarantined for the pandemic outbreak.

Danang on Tuesday resumed its social distancing. People have been ordered not to go out unless necessary and to follow all recommended disease prevention measures. Non-essential shops have been closed.

Vietnam has had 459 Covid-19 cases, 90 of them active.

Nearly 240 Vietnamese nationals repatriated from Myanmar

Close to 240 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from Myanmar by a flight of low-cost carrier Vietjet Air on July 30.

Passengers include children aged under 18, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with illness.

The Embassy of Vietnam in Myanmar sent its staff to assist these people to complete all required procedures before boarding the flight.

Strict security, safety and hygiene measures were enforced by the carrier during the flight to protect the passengers’ health and prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Upon arrival at HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, all passengers and crew members were given health check and quarantined at State-designated facilities as regulated.

Vietnamese authorities and overseas missions plan to arrange more similar flights, depending on their requests and quarantine capacity at home.

HCM City puts hotel in lockdown due to suspected COVID-19 case

The health sector of Ho Chi Minh City has urgently sprayed disinfectant and swiftly imposed a lockdown on a hotel on Nguyen Chi Thanh street in District 11 following the latest detection of a suspected novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case.

The hotel, which is situated opposite to Cho Ray Hospital, currently has five staff on-duty in addition to accommodating 48 guests. 

Four of the staff members who came into close contact with the suspected case have therefore been transferred to concentrated quarantine facilities, while the remaining guests are set to self-isolate at the hotel where they will be under strict surveillance.

The suspected case is believed to have originated from Da Nang, with fears that the COVID-19 may have been spread by the individual’s stay at the hotel. Since last night, the health centre in District 1, working in collaboration with related units, has moved to thoroughly disinfect the hotel and the surrounding area.

Moreover, the suspected patient received treatment at the City International Hospital in Binh Tan district with the morning of July 29 seeing the hospital announce a temporary halt to receiving patients for the next three days in a bid to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control measures are put in place in line with regulations.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, a total of 61 COVID-19 cases have successfully recovered from the virus in the southern city.

HCM City launches prevention campaign to combat COVID-19

Amid an increasingly complicated situation regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Ho Chi Minh City held a meeting on July 28 to carry out a range of pandemic prevention and control measures.

Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan hosts the meeting
Upon reporting on updates about the disease situation across the southern city, Nguyen Tan Binh, director of the Municipal Department of Health, noted that Ho Chi Minh City has recorded a total of 62 coronavirus cases, with all of the patients being cured and subsequently being discharged from hospitals.  

Most notably, from April 3 there had been no new locally transmitted infections for 116 consecutive days. At present, as many as 449 people have been put into isolation at concentrated quarantine areas while 237 others are self-isolating at home or in their places of residence.

Between July 1 and July 26 a total of 4,907 people returned to Ho Chi Minh City from the newly-detected COVID-19 hotspot of Da Nang, with the majority now self-isolating at home for a 14-day period. Of which, 1,359 people had been tested for the virus, with 167 showing negative results.

The southern metropolis also requires all passengers to undergo a health check, fill out a medical declaration, and have samples taken to test for COVID-19 when being held at the quarantine area at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and other entry points.

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Le Thanh Liem requested that departments, sectors, and districts work closely to monitor the evolution of COVID-19, in addition to helping local people get more information on epidemic prevention and control.

He also asked local police to tighten their monitoring of foreigners and Vietnamese nationals who have recently arrived from epidemic-hit areas, thereby swiftly detecting and quarantining COVID-19 cases in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance. Indeed, local residents are also required to wear face masks in public places.

The southern city will act in order to ensure supply of essential goods remain, even in the worst-case scenario for the pandemic. Municipal departments, sectors, and districts must also submit plans to cope with the pandemic and be ready for every scenario.

At the event, Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan urged local authorities to work hand in hand to detect and investigate rings of illegal immigrants as a way of slowing the spread of the virus to the wider community.

Vietnam records nine new COVID-19 community cases

Nine new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 have been detected, eight in Danang and one in Hanoi.

The latest information was released early July 30 morning by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The national total number of cases now stands at 459.

Included in the latest batch of new patients is a 76-year-old man who lives in Hanoi.

Before testing positive he had spent three weeks in Danang where he went for a health check-up at the C Danang Hospital, complaining of a fast heartbeat.

Among the eight other new cases in Danang, one is a 36-year-old woman who works as a nurse at Danang Hospital.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has ordered the ban on all crowds gathering, festivals and the closure of bars and nightclubs, taking effect from midnight July 29.

Earlier, Vietnam confirmed four new COVID-19 transmissions in the community on July 29 evening.

The 447th patient is a 23-year-old man from Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi. He travelled to the central city of Da Nang – where new cases of coronavirus community transmission were reported over the past few days - from July 12 to 15. He is being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

The 448th patient is a 21-year-old women from Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district, in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak. She practised at Da Nang Hospital from June 22 to July 17. She is being treated at the Central Highlands General Hospital.

The 449th patient is a 57-year-old US man residing in Hoa Khanh Bac ward, Lien Chieu district, Da Nang. He was treated at Da Nang Hospital on July 6-20, then transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in southern Ho Chi Minh City on July 20 and City International Hospital in HCM City on July 21-27.

The 450th patient is a 46-year-old woman who took care of the 449th patient.

According to the committee, 276 out of the total COVID-19 cases were imported and quarantined upon arrival.

Urgent notice on movement history of eight new COVID-19 patients

Đà Nẵng's COVID-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee has issued an urgent notice on the movement history of eight new cases of COVID-19.

According to the notice, these cases are either patients under treatment or taking care of family members being treated at three hospitals in Đà Nẵng City, including Đà Nẵng General Hospital, C Đà Nẵng Hospital, and Đà Nẵng Transport Hospital.

The first patient, a 63-year-old woman, only travelled to Đà Nẵng General Hospital to take care of her husband from May 11 to July 27 and returned home to Điện Biên Phủ Street in Thanh Khê District. She tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on July 27.

The second patient, a 40-year-old woman, stayed at Đà Nẵng General Hospital between July 14 and 20 and July 23 and 26. She went to Tâm Phúc Restaurant, 142 Restaurant, Quảng Tuý Loan Noodle Restaurant in Quang Trung Road, Vinmart Supermarket on the same street and visited a laundry service on Hải Phòng Road.

She travelled to her hometown in Đại Hồng Commune in Quảng Nam Province between July 21 and 23.

The third patient, a 42-year-old woman, travelled from her hometown in Ba Tô Commune in Quảng Ngãi Province to Đà Nẵng General Hospital on July 24. The patient did not travel around until she tested positive for the virus on July 27.

The fourth patient, a 55-year-old woman, stayed at Đà Nẵng General Hospital from the morning to the evening to take care of her son. She returned home to Hoà Hải Commune at 5pm in the evening and went back to the hospital to sleep from July 15 and July 27.

The fifth patient, a 43-year-old woman, stayed at Đà Nẵng General Hospital to take care of her husband from July 7 to July 27. The patient travelled back to her hometown in Điện Trung Commune in Quảng Nam Province using her son-in-law’s motorbike. Her daughter took turns taking care of her husband on July 24.

The sixth patient, a 19-year-old man, went to Đà Nẵng General Hospital to visit a family member on July 21. He then went to Mining Book Coffee on Hà Văn Tính Road, visited his friends on Tôn Đức Thắng Road, transported a friend from the Đà Nẵng University of Technology on Ngô Sĩ Liên Road to Phạm Như Xương Road, and Big C Supermarket in Hùng Vương Road between July 22 and 26.

The seventh patient, a 61-year-old woman, had an eye test at C Đà Nẵng Hospital on July 17 and was scheduled to have eye surgery on July 24. The patient went to Big C Supermarket on Hùng Vương Road, attended a housewarming ceremony on Phạm Tuấn Tài Road, and went to Mới Market in Nam Dương Ward every two days.

The eighth patient, a 39-year-old woman, took care of her mother at C Đà Nẵng Hospital and worked at KANE-M Đà Nẵng Company in Hoà Khánh Industrial Zone between July 16 and 23. She travelled to her hometown in Bình Định Commune in Quảng Nam Province, and to Hội An Ancient Town between July 23 and 25.

The patient went to Đà Nẵng Transport Hospital, where she was confirmed to be infected with the virus on July 28.

The committee has worked with relevant units to clarify those in close contact with the patients for testing and sterilised these places. People who were present at the locations places at the given times are required to contact the committee for health monitoring instructions.

Thua Thien-Hue Covid-19 checkpoints to prevent drivers from Danang

A check-point on Hai Van Mountain Pass

The authorities in Thua Thien-Hue Province have set up more checkpoints on the Hai Van Mountain Pass to prevent people coming from Danang City.

On July 29, the traffic police in Phu Loc District said that they had set up another checkpoint on Hai Van Mountain Pass. Drivers that have reached the checkpoint were all asked to turn back. From July 26 to 28, a medical stop set up on Hai Van Pass received over 7,200 people who want to leave Danang to travel to other northern provinces.

Thua Thien-Hue Province has set up a total of six checkpoints and medical stops at Hai Van Tunnel, A Luoi District, Phong Thu Commune in Phong Dien District, Huong Thuy Town, Huong Tra Town and Hue Station.

On July 28, Thua Thien-Hue People's Committee has sent an official document asking the police at all checkpoints to ask all drivers from Danang to turn back. Only special cases are allowed to go through such as ambulance, firms' shuttle buses for experts and cargo trucks of necessities.

Thua Thien-Hue Province hasn't reported any new Covid-19 cases yet.

All localities now at high risk of coronavirus transmission: PM

This new COVID-19 outbreak is different from the first as it has developed swiftly, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on July 29, demanding greater alertness since all localities are now at high risk of transmission.

He made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the Government’s permanent members to discuss COVID-19 prevention and control, following a string of cases reported in central Da Nang city.

Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that as of the morning of July 29, there were 30 cases of infection related to Da Nang, including 27 in the city, two in neighbouring Quang Nam province, and another in nearby Quang Ngai province.

Four more cases in major localities are set to be confirmed later on the day, he noted.

Most of the cases are linked with three hospitals - the Da Nang Hospital, the C Da Nang Hospital, and the Da Nang Rehabilitation Hospital - which have been placed on lockdown.

Maximum priority is being given to addressing the Da Nang cluster, Long added, pointing out that Hanoi, HCM City, and the Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak and Dak Nong are quite likely to record infections.

He called on all localities nationwide to enhance their testing capacity to ensure the timely detection and treatment of patients.

Meanwhile, PM Phuc requested that local leaders engage the entire political system in the fight and improve people’s vigilance in carrying out disease prevention and control measures.

Asking for testing capacity to be strengthened, he told the Ministries of Health and National Defence to provide Da Nang with the necessary equipment and personnel, as well as other localities when needed.

He also supported plans to increase patient reception at central and military hospitals along with healthcare establishments in central Hue city and Quang Nam province, as many of the confirmed cases in Da Nang have other serious illnesses.

The Government leader demanded that each locality gear up its response plans, as happened during the first period of the COVID-19 combat, and that those plans include recommendations to the public on limiting travel, wearing a face mask in crowded places and on public transport, washing their hands with soap, and sanitising their homes and workplaces.

The Ministries of National Defence and Public Security must ensure good border management, while localities with confirmed cases must delay any major festivals and restrict mass gatherings.

The Health Ministry also needs to more strictly monitor people with possible symptoms or who had direct contacts with infected patients. The Ministry of Education and Training and localities must also ensure safety at the upcoming national high school examinations, the PM said./.

COVID-19 patients in Quảng Ngãi and Đà Nẵng recover

COVID-19 patient No 370, who was being cared for at central Quảng Ngãi Province’s Bình Sơn health centre, tested negative for the first time on Wednesday after a week of treatment.

Director of the Bình Sơn health centre, Võ Hùng Viễn, said medical samples were taken two to four times a day, and the first test was negative according to the Nha Trang-based Pasteur Institute.

Viễn said patient No 419 has recovered as of Tuesday.

The provincial health department said 35 people who had close contact with patient No 419 tested negative after results announced on Monday.

It said at least 1,000 people have visited grassroots health centres to declare their health. They were in close contact or indirect communication with the two COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, two COVID-19 patients (No 416 and 418) have recovered after medical checks on Tuesday. 

Director of the Đà Nẵng General Hospital, Dr Lê Đức Nhân, said patient No 418 did not have a fever, while No 419 should not need Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in a few days.

He said the two patients suffered serious conditions including pneumonia, hypertension, and diabetes for a long time before contracting SARS-CoV-2.

According to the city’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC), 2,923 medical samples had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, while 1,300 people in close contact with the COVID-19 patients have been quarantined at health centres or isolated at home.

More than 2,000 patients and their relatives had been safely transported from the general hospitals and other quarantine centres between July 26-29. Only 673 patients including 19 COVID-19 patients are at the hospital as of Wednesday.

The city has expanded social distancing orders to suburban Hòa Vang district, and a lock-down would be arranged at some places - where COVID-19 patients had visited - in the coming days.

Field hospitals would be built to deal with possible COVID-19 patients.

The city’s tourism department has listed six hotels with 200 discounted rooms for 314 tourists stranded in the city due to social distancing orders.

Donors have brought water, face masks and food for doctors, patients and their relatives at the general hospital. At least 10,000 face masks and 100 crates of water were transported to the hospital on Wednesday. 

All members of Quảng Nam football club have isolated themselves at home after an assistant coach visited the C Hospital - which provides care for COVID-19 patients - several times.

Authorities in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province said they were prepared to host patients from Đà Nẵng to ease overloading at hospitals in Đà Nẵng. Doctors from Huế have been sent to support hospitals in Quảng Nam and Quảng Ngãi.

The provincial CDC said two Chinese citizens, Guang Shou, 40, and Zhao Tuan Jie, 51, who rode motorbikes from Đà Nẵng to Huế on Wednesday, have been taken to quarantine sites in Huế.

It also isolated 76 people who had contact with two COVID-19 patients (No 416 and 418) in Đà Nẵng.

A student studying in Huế (who had close contact with patient No 416) tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on Wednesday.

ASEAN Dhaka Committee presents medical supplies to Bangladesh

The ASEAN Dhaka Committee (ADC), including eight representative agencies of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, on July 29 donated medical supplies to Bangladesh in support of its fight against COVID-19.

The supplies, including a ventilator and personal protective equipment, were handed over by Vietnamese Ambassador and ADC Chair Pham Viet Chien, Ambassador of Thailand Arunrung Phothong Humphreys, and High Commissioner of Brunei Haji Haris bin Othman.

Receiving the materials, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masud bin Momen expressed his belief that friendship between Bangladesh and ASEAN member states will become closer. He wished to learn from experience in COVID-19 control of several ASEAN nations, including Vietnam.

On the occasion, Chien presented over 1,500 medical masks, which are donations from the Vietnamese community in Bangladesh, to the host Government to support front-line medical staff in the fight.

Since COVID-19 broke out in Bangladesh in early March, the East Asian nation had recorded over 232,000 infection cases as of July 29, including more than 3,000 deaths and over 130,000 recovered cases.

JICA provides COVID-19 treatment equipment for Cho Ray Hospital

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on July 29 said it has delivered the first batch of medical equipment for COVID-19 treatment to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

ThIS is part of a project worth nearly 60 million JPY (equivalent to 12 billion VND) in support of the city’s hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. The JICA-sponsored project was announced in June 2020.

Director of the hospital Nguyen Tri Thuc thanked JICA for its timely and effective support, adding new community transmissions have been recorded in the central city of Da Nang in recent days.

The hospital has sent some health workers to support the city.

JICA said it will continue consulting with the Japanese government to assist Vietnam in preventing communicable diseases, including COVID-19.

In 2016, JICA and Cho Ray Hospital jointly implemented a technical cooperation project to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment.

Thailand extends state of emergency to Aug 31

Thailand extended its state of emergency to the end of August to curb the spread of the COVID-19, even though the country has not found any new community infections for about two months.

The decree, first introduced in late March, has been repeatedly extended with the latest extension scheduled at the end of this month.

Thailand has so far reported a total of 3,298 COVID-19 cases and 58 deaths.

In Cambodia, Interior Minister Sar Kheng advised capital and provincial governors to prepare facilities and entertainment venues with COVID-19 prevention measures in anticipation of the re-scheduled Khmer New Year holidays from August 17-21.

In a letter on July 27, Sar Kheng said the governors must inform guesthouse, hotel and restaurant owners to prepare alcohol or gel for handwashing and take the body temperature of guests at exits and entrances. The owners must also enforce social distancing.

Previously, Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng also issued a letter to the transport and tourism ministers and capital and provincial governors to help disseminate his ministry’s guidelines on preventing coronavirus infections during the upcoming holidays.

The letter said citizens must avoid mass gatherings and seek highly ventilated places. They must refrain from activities that could pose risks such as singing and dancing or drinking without maintaining social distancing.

On July 28, Cambodia recorded seven new confirmed cases, putting the nationally tally at 233.

Indonesia on July 29 found 2,381 new infections of coronavirus, raising the total count to 104,432, while the death toll increased by 74 to 4,975.

In the Philippines, the total count of infections reached 85,486 after the country detected 1,874 new cases on July 29. Sixteen new deaths raised the total fatalities to 1,962 cases.

Cambodia hands out over 23 million USD to the poor

Cambodia’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation said it has completed transferring more than 23 million USD to poor people, covering over 530,000 households.

It is estimated that about 30,000 needy households missed the deadline to receive the benefit.

The ministry said as the deadline fell on July 24, as many as 530,858 households had received more than 94,551 billion riel (about 23.2 million USD) from the government’s cash transfer programme carried out from June 2020.

The government is also jointly implementing a programme with four United Nations bodies in Cambodia to support migrant workers who have returned from Thailand during the COVID-19 crisis. The programme will cover all the 35 districts of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces.