HCMC – Vietnam’s Covid-19 tally has risen to 766,051 after the Ministry of Health confirmed 9,362 new Covid-19 cases, including 9,342 domestic infections and 20 imported cases this evening, September 27, down 669 cases against yesterday.
The domestic infections were detected in 36 cities and provinces. HCMC recorded the biggest number of new infections with 4,134, followed by Binh Duong with 3,793, Dong Nai with 616, Long An with 190 and An Giang with 131.
Other localities reported fewer than 100 new Covid-19 cases each.
In the fourth wave of the pandemic since April 27, the country has recorded 761,527 domestically transmitted Covid-19 cases.
This afternoon, the Health Ministry confirmed 174 more Covid-19 deaths, taking the total to 18,758. The new deaths included 122 in HCMC, 32 in Binh Duong, four each in Tay Ninh, An Giang and Dong Nai, and three in Can Tho. Four other localities reported one or two new fatalities each.
Up to now, more than 538,454 Covid-19 patients in the country have made a full recovery, including 10,528 people today. Meanwhile, there are currently over 4,100 Covid-19 patients in critical condition.
Vietnam has administered over 39 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines nationwide. Nearly 8.3 million people have received two doses.
Major cities like HCMC and Hanoi are preparing for economic reopening and resumption of certain essential services as the Covid-safe situation has improved.
HCMC has removed inner-city barriers on hundreds of roads and alleys, while Hanoi will permit the residents to exercise outdoors from tomorrow, September 28. Commercial centers, and fashion and cosmetic stores in Hanoi are also allowed to reopen.
Speaking at a meeting of the national steering committee for Covid prevention and control late last week, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the committee has adjusted the pandemic response strategy, from “zero Covid” to “safely and flexibly adapting to and effectively controlling Covid”, to facilitate economic recovery.
The prime minister also said the reciprocal recognition of Covid-19 vaccine passports with select countries is “very important and especially necessary in the current situation”.
Addressing a meeting chaired by Chinh on September 26, Tetsu Funayama, chairman of the Vietnam Business Forum and the Japanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Vietnam, made some recommendations to the Government.
According to Funayama, Vietnam should roll out vaccinations as fast as possible in order to restore supply chains. The Government should set up walk-in vaccination points across the country so that workers, particularly those in priority sectors, who returned home during the fourth Covid-19 wave can quickly be vaccinated. Meanwhile, the “three-on-site” model should only be applied in high-risk areas with staff allowed to travel to and from work.
Besides, the Government should remove travel restrictions between provinces and prioritize the vaccination of essential workers to ensure the free flow of goods.
Funayama also suggested that the Government implement a comprehensive financial development strategy including digitalization of tax and customs procedures, tax exemptions, and low-interest loans to support enterprises.
