Healthcare workers in the laboratory are among those who work very hard to return the results of COVID-19 tests as soon as possible.
VOV reported that of the newly detected cases, 4,947 were locally acquired and two were diagnosed upon returning from overseas, the MoH said in its 06.00pm coronavirus update on August 8.
About 2,155 cases were documented in the community through random testing or test screening at healthcare facilities, while the rest tested positive in quarantine or lockdown areas.
Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, took the lead in infection numbers, registering 2,002. It was followed by Binh Duong, an industrial hub and a gateway to HCM City, that recorded 1,733 new cases.
Elsewhere, Dong Nai reported 224 new cases, Can Tho 71, Tra Vinh 67, Binh THuan 46, Dong Thap 44 and Ben Tre 20, all in the south.
The fresh coronavirus outbreak remains complicated in the central region as Khanh Hoa registered 201 new cases, followed by Da Nang 68, Ninh Thuan 62, Dak Lak 41, Phu Yen 29 and Lam Dong 21.
Hanoi capital, which is implementing extended social distancing measures, documented a further 51 cases.
New cases were also sporadically reported in Ha Tinh, Quang Ngai, Binh Phuoc, Gia Lai, Hai Duong, Phu Tho, Thai Binh, Hung Yen and Thanh Hoa.
Overall, Vietnam has confirmed 9,690 new cases during the past 24 hours, with HCM City recording 3,898 cases and Binh Duong 2,328.
Data from the Ministry of Health (MoH) show as of 06.00 pm on August 8 Vietnam has documented 206,490 new locally transmitted cases following virus resurgence in late April and 210,405 cases since the start of the first outbreak in January 2020.
The same day, the MoH announced 147 more COVID-19 deaths in six cities and provinces. HCM City confirmed 108 cases, while Binh Duong reported 30 cases.
CAAV proposes halting flights between localities applying social distancing
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed the Ministry of Transport halt all commercial flights between provinces and cities that are applying social distancing measures, including Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route and vice versa, reported VNA.
At Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport (Photo: VNA)
The move aims to tighten control of commercial flights and chartered flights to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to the CAAV.
Flights that serve public works and disease control are still allowed to operate, including those carrying health workers and officials.
The authorities in their points of departure need to inform the authorities in their destinations so they can be tested immediately upon arrival and taken into quarantine if needed.
Commercial flights from Hanoi to Can Tho, Phu Quoc and vice versa have been temporarily halted since July 22.
The Hanoi - HCM City route, Vietnam’s busiest one, has been cut down to two round trips a day and were all operated by the national flag carriers Vietnam Airlines.
Germany – a potential market for Vietnamese businesses
With a large network of Asian food distributors, Germany represents a potential market for Vietnamese products to penetrate and gain a firm foothold there in the long run, VOV quoted the sayings of Bui Vuong Anh, Vietnamese Trade Counsellor to Germany.
Vietnamese products are on display at a supermarket in Germany
Anh says Germany is a big but untapped potential market in Europe. Last year it imported US$196.6 million worth of fresh and processed meat and fish products from Vietnam, accounting for less than 1% of its import demand.
Similarly Germany spent US$303 million on purchasing fresh fruit, processed fruit and nuts from Vietnam, or just 2.7% of its import demand, and US$429 million on tea, coffee and spices, or 10% of its import demand.
Currently Vietnam is Germany’s largest trading partner among ASEAN countries and its fourth largest trading partner in Asia, only after China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
The enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in August 2020 has opened up a wealth of opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to expand their exports in this demanding market, Anh stresses.
In addition, he says Germany has a large Vietnamese community who are living, working and doing business in their host country. It possesses a large network of distributors of Asian products, mostly originating from Vietnam, which are considered potential consumption and transit hubs of Vietnamese exports in not only Germany but the European Union.
To boost exports the Trade Counsellor suggests businesses should modernize production technology, diversify product patterns, and improve product quality to cater to German consumer tastes, while at the same time better utilizing the EVFTA.
The Vietnamese Trade Office in Germany as well as the Vietnamese Trade Offices in Europe always attach great importance to trade promotion to support domestic exporters in quest of bringing Vietnamese products to the German market, Anh says.
According to the Trade Counsellor, his Trade Office is working closely with the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade to implement a distribution and logistics scheme, aimed at establishing large distribution channels to help Vietnamese exports penetrate deeper and gain a firm foothold in Germany as well as in the EU./.