Frontline forces work hard to combat the pandemic

Police at a checkpoint in Vĩnh Long Province. — VNA/VNS Photo
VĨNH LONG — With the mission of acting as a shield against the pandemic, thousands of police officers in southern Vĩnh Long Province have worked hard day and night with the military and the health sector in performing tasks on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight.

Since the new COVID-19 wave emerged in Việt Nam in late April, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Văn Núi has been sent to checkpoints to maintain social security and order while preventing the spread of the disease.

Núi is head of the COVID-19 checkpoint in Ward No 8, Vĩnh Long City. He is among more than 1,500 personnel working at 300 supervision stations and patrol teams at quarantine centres in Vĩnh Long Province.

Núi said during the battle, many officers and soldiers have put aside their own needs and concerns to successfully complete their assigned tasks.

"Everyone is aware that they have to fulfil the assigned tasks, especially the prevention and fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect people and also to protect ourselves and our families,” Núi said.

During the period of social distancing according to Directive 16 which started on July 19, they were not only on duty at the checkpoints but also had to regularly go on patrol. They had to keep a close watch on the zone to stop people leaving or others entering, while dealing with those who did not follow the rules.

The provincial police force has performed over 13,000 patrols. They made records of over 6,480 cases of violations and sanctioned 2,723 cases with a total amount of over VNĐ8 billion.

Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, Lữ Quang Ngời, said that these checkpoints played an important role in detecting infections and preventing the risk of COVID-19 spreading.

The police force has also helped to raise people's awareness and strictly handle violations, contributing to disease control in the province.

In the last days of July, field hospitals were established to treat and care for COVID-19 patients as the number of COVID-19 cases continued to increase.

A patient is tested for COVID-19 at field hospital No. 2 in Mang Thít District. — VNA/VNS Photo
Many young doctors and medical students also volunteered to join the fight against the pandemic.

Every day, they support doctors in examination and care for patients.

When the fourth wave broke out, Nguyễn Thanh Quyền, a medical student, decided to apply to be part of the volunteer medical force to fight the pandemic at the field hospital No. 2 in Mang Thít district.

Quyền said that working at the field hospital was an opportunity for him to devote and help him learn more from practical experience.

"I want to share the hardship that other medics out there have suffered, having to work with protective gear in the hot weather," said Quyền.

"During treatment, many patients are very confused. Doctors and nurses have to both treat and be companions to encourage and help patients overcome this hard time."

With the efforts of doctors at the No. 2 field hospital, 268 have recovered and returned to normal life. Only six patients are still being treated.

Doctors said that it warms their heart to see the happy faces of the patients and receive messages of peace and thanks from them.

After more than three months fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, 20 out of 107 communes, wards and towns across the province have started to enter a "new normal". — VNS

Removing obstacles to offer COVID-19 assistance to freelance workers in Hà Nội

A freelance worker in Bắc Từ Liêm District, Hà Nội receives assistance from the COVID-19 aid packages. Photo: Hanoimoi
Nguyễn Hồng Dân, deputy director of Hà Nội’s Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, talks to Lao Động (Labour) newspaper about supporting freelance workers affected by the pandemic.

A number of administrative procedures in Hà Nội have been simplified to help freelance workers in the capital city receive COVID-19 assistance. What are the results of this work?

As of 4pm September 10, 2021, relevant departments and socio-political organisations, district and town-level authorities have mobilised more than VNĐ1 trillion to implement supportive policies. Among this, the State budget accounted for VNĐ799.5 billion. As much as VNĐ204.8 billion came from social sources.

All 30 districts and towns of the city have helped to assist 136,802 freelance workers who do not have labour contracts or have lost their jobs.

The total support package costs VNĐ205.2 billion.

More than 109,000 workers have so far received aid.

What proposals have been made by the municipal Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs to lift obstacles and create conditions for freelance workers to access support policies?

While implementing the supportive policies under Resolution 68 of the Government, the Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs has consulted with the city’s authorities to issue a document to remove difficulties for the workers.

The city People's Committee has assigned the district, town, commune-level people's committees to receive the application of freelance workers who are qualified to receive assistance but cannot return to the place of permanent residence or place of residency to apply.

Applications have been received through the post office, email or on online platforms to shorten waiting time.

Labourers only need to send the application to authorities of their residential groups. Their application will then be submitted to the ward’s authorities for approval. Workers will receive an announcement when the assistance is ready.

Districts like Hai Bà Trưng, Hoàng Mai, Ba Đình, Tây Hồ, Hoài Đức, Phúc Thọ, Đan Phượng and Đống Đa have applied this method effectively.

Many freelance workers in Hà Nội have not registered for temporary residence. How can this group access packages without having to spend time on residence registration?

They can register for temporary residence at the commune/ward’s police station. Since July 1, 2021, the amended Law on Residence has simplified the temporary residence registration process.

On the national database on population, workers only need to show their citizen identification number, making the registration of temporary residence more simple.

During the social distancing period, police officers in charge of each residential group will support freelance workers in confirming their status of residence.

Currently, the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is co-ordinating with the Hà Nội police to pilot the application of the national population database in order to monitor supporting employees.

If this can be done, the employees only need to submit an application for support to the ward's authorities without having to show a certificate of residence status.

Authorities will be able to supervise the distribution of packages and avoid giving aid to one person multiple times at both temporary and permanent living areas. VNS

HCM City drafts safety criteria for transport businesses

Traffic police in HCM City check vehicles at a checkpoint set up under the Government’s Directive No 16 social distancing regulations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. — VNA/VNS Photo Thành Chung
HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Transport has drafted a set of criteria for evaluating the safety of operations for transport businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The department has sent the draft to the city’s Department of Health for appraisal.

The draft proposes 10 evaluation criteria, including six mandatory criteria and four additional criteria.

Each criterion grades the transport businesses on a 10-point scale.

The percentage of the safety index will be calculated by the average of the total points for 10 criteria divided by 100.

To resume operation, transport businesses are required to meet all mandatory criteria without zero points and at least 70 per cent of the safety index.

If businesses have a safety index ranging from 60 per cent to 70 per cent and do not have any mandatory criteria with zero points, they will be allowed to resume operation.

However, they have to commit to solving the problem and achieve a minimum safety index of 70 per cent within two days, and if not, they must suspend their operations.

Businesses will be not allowed to resume their operations if they have a safety index of below 60 per cent or one of mandatory criteria with zero points.

The first mandatory criterion requires that drivers and attendants have their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least two weeks before resumption of work, or have recovered from COVID-19 over the past six months. If they have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, it must be at least two weeks prior to resumption of work. These cases will get 10 points.

If they received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine four weeks prior to resuming work, or have recovered from COVID-19 over the past six months but have not received any dose of COVID-19 vaccine, these cases will get 7 points.

Those who do not meet any of these requirements will receive zero points.

The second mandatory criterion concerns testing of drivers and attendants. Periodic COVID-19 testing is 10 points, infrequent COVID-19 testing is 5 points, and no testing is zero.

The third mandatory criterion requires strictly following the Ministry of Health’s 5K massage: khẩu trang (face mask), khử khuẩn (disinfection), khoảng cách (distance), không tụ tập (no gathering), and khai báo y tế (health declaration), and COVID-19 vaccinations (10 points for strictly following and zero for not following).

The next mandatory criterion requires offering hand sanitisers with at least 70 per cent alcohol for passengers, using disinfectant solutions to clean vehicles, and equipping trash cans with closed lids on all means of transport (from 10 points to zero).

The fifth mandatory criterion will offer 10 points for vehicles transporting passengers (including drivers and attendants) at 50 per cent of their capacity, or cargo transport having no more than two people in one vehicle.

Five points will be given to vehicles transporting passengers at 50 per cent to 70 per cent of their capacity, or cargo transport having more than two people in one vehicle and keeping a safe distance from each other.

Vehicles transporting passengers more than 70 per cent of their capacity, or cargo transport having more than two people in one vehicle and not keeping a safe distance will receive no points.

In the last mandatory criterion, vehicles will get 10 points if they have propaganda posters, recommendations and guidance on pandemic prevention and control measures according to regulations. If not, they receive no points.

Four additional criteria include establishing a steering committee (or working group) and having a plan for pandemic prevention and control work; cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle at the end of each trip; the level of ventilation of the vehicle; and placing a partition between driver and passenger in the vehicle.

Viet Nam News Sports

Việt Nam beat Panama in Futsal World Cup thriller

Viet Nam News Sports


Việt Nam beat Panama in Futsal World Cup thriller
Update: September, 17/2021 - 10:09Share facebookChia sẻ bài viết lên TwitterShare google+|
Anh Đức

KLAIPÉDA - Việt Nam entered their second group stage match in the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021 against Panama on Thursday, knowing a win was vital if they wanted to progress to the next round.

And Phạm Minh Giang’s men delivered in Lithuania, claiming all the three points in a 3-2 thriller. If they avoid defeat in the final group game against the Czech Republic on Sunday they will go through to the knock out stages.

A loss could still see Việt Nam progress, but that will only depend on the number of goals they concede.

Việt Nam grabbed their hard-earned win after a 3-2 thriller against Panama. Photo: thethaovanhoa.vn
In Thursday night's match (local time), the Golden Star Warriors took the initiative from the off, with a goal by Vietnamese Futsal Golden Ball winner Nguyễn Minh Trí right in the first minute from a corner kick.

Seven minutes later, Châu Đoàn Phát fired home the second from long range, again after a corner. Goalkeeper Hồ Văn Ý even tried to get in on the action, with speculative effort from inside his own half that hit the post.

More opportunities came Việt Nam's way in the opening exchanges, but poor finishing from the team in white would prove costly when Panama’s forward Castrellon punished those missed chances by firing a vicious left-footed effort to reduce the deficit to one goal.

Keeper Hồ Văn Ý went for goal again, this time his shot bounced off both posts and had seemingly crossed the line but the goal was ruled out after intervention from VAR.

Gutted by the decision, the Vietnamese players lost their focus and were drawn into multiple fouls, and conceded a 10-metre penalty after their sixth team foul. Castrellon made no mistakes and equalised for Panama just before half-time.

Although Panama took the upper hand in the second half, Việt Nam still had their chances through counterattacks. A steal and dribble attempt from his own half by Nguyễn Văn Hiếu was finished delinquently into the back of Panama’s net and gave Việt Nam the lead in the seventh minute of the second half.

Panama piled shot after shot at Hồ Văn Ý, but the brave goalkeeper and his defence stood firm and protected their narrow lead to give Việt Nam their first win in the tournament.

Panama need a miracle win over Brazil to keep their second-round hopes alive, while Phạm Minh Giang’s men must try to avoid defeat against the Czech Republic, who was beaten 4-0 by Brazil later Thursday night. VNS

On Friday morning, the first day after Hanoi's authorities decided to remove 39 COVID-19 checkpoints in inner urban districts, traffic returned to many streets, with the number of people and vehicles singificantly higher than previous days of stringent lockdown and rigorous permit checks.
Hanoi will start to implement locked-down areas at the smallest scale to restore production and business activities, according to the municipal People’s Committee in yesterday's meeting.

Deputy PM requests completion of dossier licensing COVID-19 vaccine production

The home-grown Nano Covax vaccine.— VNA/VNS Photo
HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam has asked for completion of the dossier of the home-grown Nano Covax vaccine to submit for urgent licensing, and assistance for relevant firms in testing the anti-virus drug Molnupiravir in a notice released by the Government Office.

In Notice No. 248/TB-VPCP, which sums up the conclusion of the Deputy PM at a meeting on research, technology transfer, clinical trial and production of drugs, vaccines, and biological products, the Ministry of Health is required to give more support to COVID-19 vaccine research units in completing and supplementing dossiers of vaccines, first of all the Nano Covax, to submit to the National Committee for Ethics in Biomedical Research, and the Advisory Council for the Registration of Circulation of Drugs and Medicinal Ingredients for consideration and emergency approval.

Đam also asked the health ministry to collect recommendations of the two councils’ members on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for children, the combination of vaccines, and plans for vaccine use.

The ministry of health was also asked to guide and help related firms in the trial of the anti-viral drug Molnupiravir, and design plans to ensure the availability of treatment drugs to meet the demand amid rapid increases in COVID-19 patients, while speeding up the clinical trial and evaluation of the efficacy of the Vipdevir drug for COVID-19 treatment researched and produced by the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology.

The ministry will also direct domestic units to continue researching medicine for COVID-19 treatment, coordinate will the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant agencies in helping enterprises to soon produce rapid antigen testing kits which can be effective on many strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus.