Localities were asked to consider halting some non-essential services such as bars, KTVs, discotheques, internet games due to COVID-19 high risk of spreading.

Vietnam reports 20 more COVID-19 cases

No cases were reported on May 3 morning. However, 20 were found from 6 am to 6 pm May 2, according to the Health Ministry. The cases, 12 imported and eight domestic, are all Vietnamese.

As of 4 pm on May 2, a total of 532,247 health workers have been injected with COVID-19 vaccines. They are staff who are directly treating COVID-19 patients, health workers who perform tasks such as sampling, testing, tracing COVID-19 groups, staff of the Steering Committee for pandemic prevention at all levels, the police and military forces.

Hanoi requires returnees to make health declaration after the public holiday

People returning to Hanoi are subject to compulsory medical declaration after the four-day public holidays lasting from April 30 to May 3, according to a document on COVID-19 prevention and control work issued on May 2 by the Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee.

A large number of people in Hanoi traveled to other localities during the holidays, posing high risks of spreading the viral disease in the community. Anyone who shows signs of coughing, fever, shortness of breath, or other suspected symptoms of COVID-19 should go to the nearest medical facilities for timely instruction. Meanwhile, heads of organizations and agencies in the city must be responsible for the medical declaration of their staff, and local authorities for that of the residents.

The municipal police are assigned to direct their lower units to make a list of returnees after holidays, popularise COVID-19 prevention measures, and give strict punishment to any violations. COVID-19 has become complicated in recent days as more people have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 after coming into close contact with a patient in the northern province of Ha Nam.

Ha Nam Field Hospital starts to accepting F1 cases

On May 2 night, Bach Mai Field Hospital branch in Ha Nam officially received F1 cases with severe background diseases, both the elderly and the young. According to the plan, tonight, the functional forces will transfer about 80 F1 that are being monitored and isolated at 3 concentrated isolation facilities including Ha Nam Medical College, Regiment 151, Ha Nam Vocational College to the field hospital.

The field hospital has an expected capacity of 500 beds for regular patients and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with 30- 50 beds that can increase capacity if the demand increases. The Intensive Care Unit fully applies high technology to serve patients with COVID-19.

MOH advises closing nationwide bars & KTVs

On May 2, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen sent a telegram to localities, stating that a number of COVID-19 infections have been recorded in the community and posing the risk of spreading to other places. In recent days, there are still many gathering places open, such as beaches, amusement parks, and tourism areas where people do not strictly implement anti-pandemic measures.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health suggested localities stop unnecessary crowded activities such as festivals, pedestrian streets, and night markets. If still open, these places must ensure preventive measures, especially the wearing of masks. The ministry suggested localities strictly punish people leaving home without wearing masks. Localities were asked to consider halting some non-essential services such as bars, KTVs, discotheques, internet games due to COVID-19 high risk of spreading.

New cases bring the national count to 2,962, with 1,595 domestically infected cases. A total of 40,563 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide.

Meanwhile, 2,549 patients have been given the all-clear, and the death toll remains at 35. Among the patients under treatment, 19 have tested negative for the coronavirus once, 19 twice and 34 thrice.

After locally infected cases were detected in late April, localities around the country are tightening pandemic prevention measures.

Valerie Mai