Photo for illustration
Of 5,587 fresh active cases recorded domestically, Ho Chi Minh City still accounted for the majority at 4,692, followed by Binh Duong (345), Dong Nai (147), Dong Thap (101), Long An (89), Khanh Hoa (60), Phu Yen (55), Da Nang (46), Tay Ninh (42), Ha Noi (42), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (41), Vinh Long (38), Binh Thuan (37), Tien Giang (31), Can Tho (26), Kien Giang (19), and Ben Tre (17). The remaining localities logged single-digit community infections.
Of these, 2,108 cases were detected in locked down areas.
By 6pm on July 18, Vietnam recorded 51,771domestic infections and 2,059 imported ones. The number of infections reported since the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks hit Vietnam late April amounted to 50,201, 7,893 of whom have been given the all-clear.
Among the active patients, 267 tested negative for the coronavirus once, 116 twice and 118 thrice.
As many as 355 patients were given the all-clear on July 18, raising the total number of recoveries to 10,667. Meanwhile, 29 people in HCM City, Long An, Binh Duong, Dong Thap, Bac Giang, Da Nang and Hanoi died of the coronavirus disease from July 4-17.
Twelve localities have gone through two weeks without new infections in the community.
Hanoi halts all non-essential services from 0am on July 19
Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People's Committee Chu Ngoc Anh on July 18 ordered halting all non-essential services amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported VNA.
Testing for COVID-19 (Photo: VNA)
Accordingly, Hanoi citizens are required to stay at home and only go out when necessary such as business trip, food and medicine purchase, and other emergency cases like health check-ups and treatment.
The municipal authorities also asked residents not to gather more than five people outside the workplaces, schools and hospitals, and fill in health declarations on the website www.tokhaiyte.vn or apps Ncovi and Bluezone.
Agencies, businesses, including foreign-invested ones, were urged to actively outline online working or work-in-shift plans.
Shopping malls, supermarkets, wholesale and wet markets in the city only sell necessities. Public transport means must reduce seats by half.
The city directed preparing sufficient food and necessities in every case.
Flights to several southern localities to be suspended
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) recently sent a dispatch asking domestic airlines to suspend flights to and from airports in several southern cities and provinces that are under social distancing measures from July 19.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Specifically, all flights to and from Con Dao in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Ca Mau, Rach Gia in Kien Giang province will be halted from 0am on July 19.
According to VNA, the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will still run a daily flight linking Phu Quoc and Hanoi and another on Can Tho-Hanoi route.
Bamboo Airways will operate Phu Quoc-Hanoi and Can Tho – Hanoi flights only on July 19, each one trip per day, in place of Vietnam Airlines.
Airlines are running Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi flights with a daily capacity of 1,700 seats per trip.
Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines will supply no more than 700 seats per trip each day, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways each 400 seats, and Pacific Airlines 200 seats.
Each carrier could offer 1-2 daily flights on Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang/Quy Nhon/Cam Ranh/Buon Ma Thuot routes.
There will be no limitation in the number of flights carrying cargo.
The suspension of flights is due to last till August 1.
All passengers must show documents certifying they test negative for SARS-CoV-2 as requested by the Health Ministry./.