HCM City prepares for reopening after September 30
The downward trend in new COVID-19 infections and a high ratio of vaccination have been among good signals creating the momentum for Ho Chi Minh City to reopen its economy after September 30 as planned.
HCM City (VNA) – The downward trend in newCOVID-19 infections and a high ratio of vaccination have been among goodsignals creating the momentum for Ho Chi Minh City to reopen its economy afterSeptember 30 as planned.
According to the city Department of Health, as of September26 morning, 9.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been injected, with 6.8million people, or 94.5 percent of local residents over 18 years old receivingthe first shots and 2.6 million others getting full two shots.
Meanwhile, the ratio of new infections in red and orangezones detected through mass testing has declined from 3.7 percent to 1.1percent after six testing drives. In the seventh testing drive from September20, the ratio was 0.3 percent.
Defining health care strategy as one of key factor for there-opening plan, Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Vice Director of the city HealthDepartment said after vaccination reaches full coverage, the city will focus onmanaging COVID-19 patients in the community, while strengthening the treatment system,and conducting testing on high-risk groups.
Currently, HCM City has 90 COVID-19 treatment facilities,with 3,280 beds for critical patients, he said.
At the same time, the city is building 11 strategies for the‘new normal’ period, including those on health care, social welfare, andbusiness production.
Secretary of the city Party Committee Nguyen Van Nenaffirmed that it’s time for the city to make necessary preparations for living safelywith the virus.
“Green card” has been piloted in a number of localitieshosting a large number of businesses, including District 7, Cu Chi and Can Giodistrict, as well as export processing zones and the High-Tech Park sinceSeptember 16.
Lam Dinh Thang, Director of the municipal Department ofInformation and Communications said that the COVID-19 “green card” is a tool tomanage people meeting all safety criteria against COVID-19, which is part ofthe city’s plan on partly opening and a suitable step towards the new normalsituation after September 30.
Currently, the city Steering Committee for COVID-19Prevention and Control has issued 15 sets of safety criteria for seven sectorsin preparation for reopening. People who want to engage in production,business, travel, shopping and social activities must hold the COVID-19 “greencard”.
The city Department of Transport has also designed a plan toreceive labourers from other localities, while a number of major wholesale marketsin District 7 and Cu Chi and Can Gio district have opened again, work at manyconstruction sites have resumed and tens of thousands of shippers have returnedto work, showing that life in the city is generally returning to “the new normal”./.
The fourth outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic starting from late April has had more negative impacts on daily life as well as socio-economic development than the previous waves in the country.
As many as 160,000 shippers in Ho Chi Minh City have received at least one shot of vaccine against COVID-19, with 33,025 of them getting full two shots, reported Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Nguyen Phuong at a press conference on September 24.
Three non-governmental organisations in Vietnam - the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD), Saigon Children’s Charity (saigonchildren) and Capacity Building and Support Center for Women and Children (CSWC) - have joined hands to launch the “You are not alone” campaign to support children orphaned by COVID-19 – the hidden victims of the pandemic.
The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City has seen higher efficiency as the numbers of new cases, severe patients and deaths have decreased while the number of discharged patients has increased rapidly, said a municipal official.
Through personal relationships or professional dealings, Chairman of Phuc Son Group Nguyen Van Hau gave a total of over 130 billion VND to local leaders in Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai provinces. These officials used their positions to execute tasks as requested by Hau, enabling him and Phuc Son Group, as well as Thang Long company, to carry out projects, participate in tenders, and win contracts.
Total tourism revenue is projected to reach 280 trillion VND (10.7 billion USD), with hotel occupancy rates averaging 68% and the sector’s contribution to the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) estimated at 7–7.5%.
Amid complex developments in the region, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel continues to advise Vietnamese citizens who remain in the conflict zone to stay calm, maintain regular contact with the embassy, and strictly follow instructions and warnings from local authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and the embassy.
Kon Tum aims to eliminate all substandard housing by October 31. Authorities will continue to review and prioritise support for households in serious hardship, especially those who rendered service to the nation, the poor, and victims of Agent Orange, while ensuring transparency and preventing policy abuse.
Vietnam has achieved many remarkable results, such as the smoking rate among adults decreased from 23.8% in 2010 to 20.8% in 2021. The rate of exposure to secondhand smoke decreased from 73.1% to 45.6%.
More than half a century after the war, millions of unexploded bombs and mines remain buried underground, threatening lives and hindering development in many localities.
According to the indictment, during the execution of various projects and procurement packages across the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho, Phuc Son Group's Chairman and General Director Nguyen Van Hau, who is also Chairman of the Thang Long investment, trade and real estate JSC, either personally committed, directed subordinates, or worked with partner entities to carry out unlawful activities related bidding and accounting procedures.
According to Ben Tre authorities, the province will continue to strengthen IUU fishing prevention by enforcing central directives and enhancing public awareness and compliance among local fishing communities.
Trial operations at the new public administrative service centres in Thanh Khe and Ngu Hanh Son wards show that the reception and processing of citizens' documents on the new wards’ data system have been smoothly handled by the staff, enabling quick settlement and facilitating easy access to public services for the people.
The event, the 12th of its kind jointly, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Chris Geyskens, Chairwoman of the Belgium chapter of the Hoi An – Vietnam Association for Victims of AO/Dioxin.
The Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese bilingual school has positioned itself as a prestigious education establishment, nurturing generations of Vietnamese and Lao students while preserving Vietnamese culture and language as well as strengthening the special bonds between the two countries
For households of people with meritorious service and relatives of fallen soldiers, the province supported the construction and renovation of 2,374 houses, achieving 100% of the set target, 342 newly built and 2,032 renovated.
Held under the theme “Pride and Aspiration”, this year's “Glory to Vietnam” programme aimed to inspire the Vietnamese people's ambition to reach new heights during the era of integration and development.
According to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC), this year’s campaign provided long-term aid for 3,785 individuals and organisations. Support included houses, clean water systems, school meal facilities, books, and livelihood assistance, with a total value of more than 118 billion VND.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
A view of HCM City (Photo: VNA) 
