Since the fourth pandemic wave hit the country on April 27, Vietnam has counted 365,152 cases. Of which, 159,501 recovered.

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More than 10,800 Covid-19 cases added on August 24. (Photo: Zing News)

More than 10,800 Covid-19 cases added on August 24

Additional 10,811 Covid-19 cases, including 14 imported ones, were confirmed nationwide in the past 24 hours to 6pm on August 24, according to the Ministry of Health.

Of the new cases, Ho Chi Minh City reported 4,627 cases, Binh Duong 3,628, Dong Nai 799, Long An 393, Khanh Hoa 203, Dong Thap 162, Da Nang 153, Tay Ninh 105, Tien Giang 93, Can Tho 72, Hanoi 66, Ba Ria – Vung Tau 64, Kien Giang 61, Binh Thuan 56, Soc Trang and An Giang each 42, Nghe An 28, Phu Yen 24, Dak Lak 21, Binh Phuoc 20, Thua Thien-Hue 13, Ben Tre 12, Vinh Long and Quang Nam each 11, Ha Tinh 10, Hau Giang, Quang Tri and Son La each 9, Bac Lieu and Lang Son each 7, Tra Vinh 6, Thanh Hoa, Lam Dong and Binh Dinh each 5, Ninh Thuan 4; Gia Lai, Bac Ninh and Bac Giang each 3, Quang Binh 2; Quang Ngai, Ha Nam, Hai Phong and Ca Mau each 1.

Also on August 24, 7,663 patients were given the all-clear from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 162,279.

Pope Francis has provided emergency relief to people hit by Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters in Vietnam, Haiti and Bangladesh. (Photo: Reuters)

Pope Francis offers EUR100,000 to Covid hit people in Vietnam

Pope Francis has decided to provide EUR100,000 as emergency relief to Vietnamese people negatively affected by the ongoing pandemic, according to the Vatican News. The aid will be sourced from charity funds at the Pope’s personal disposal, the Vatican said on August 24. Vietnam is grappling with the fourth outbreak of the coronavirus, with the virus spreading to 62 out of 63 cities and provinces across the country and more than 365,000 new cases recorded.

Besides Vietnam, Haiti will also receive EUR200,000 to support its people hit by last year’s powerful earthquake that claimed more than 2,000 lives. Bangladesh will also receive US$70,000 to support recovery efforts from Cyclone Yaas, which left tens of thousands of people homeless last May.

The Vatican said the sums were initial contributions and would be administered through its embassies in the countries.

RoK city sends 5,000 rapid test kits to Da Lat. (Photo: Zing News)

RoK city sends 5,000 rapid test kits to Da Lat

Jeon Jin Pyo, deputy mayor of Chuncheon city, the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Gangwon province, on August 24 presented 5,000 Covid-19 rapid test kits for the Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tung in aid of Da Lat city, Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

At the handover ceremony held at the Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed his gratitude toward the valuable and timely support from the Chucheon authorities and people, adding the kits are the result of the two cities’ cooperation. He vowed to soon deliver the gift to Da Lat, contributing to helping the city soon put the pandemic under control.

Jeon Jin Pyo said the gift demonstrates the affection of the people of Chuncheon city for the people of Da Lat. The two cities have just established their twin relations for a short time, but have promoted cooperation in the fields of education and businesses and exchanges between their organizations and agencies.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. (Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Bac)

Prime Minister to lead national Covid prevention committee

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has been assigned to lead the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control as the novel coronavirus continues to rage across the country. Chinh received the new assignment at a meeting of key leaders led by Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the Party’s Central Committee Office said Tuesday.

The assignment was based on the assessment that complicated pandemic-related developments are likely to continue for a long time, especially in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces. This, in turn, would make prevention tasks difficult, hinder social-economic activities and adversely affect people’s lives, Trong said at the meeting.

As head of the steering committee, Chinh will give direct orders and keep a united front on the Covid-19 fight from top government units to grassroots level agencies. At city/provincial level, the Party heads will be directly in charge of pandemic control activities.

Vietnam has so far logged 369,267 infections, ranking 66th out of 222 countries and territories. Since the fourth pandemic wave hit the country on April 27, Vietnam has counted 365,152 cases. Of which, 159,501 recovered.

As of August 24, the country's death toll reached 9,014. A total of 17,6467,353 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered so far, with 15,725,040 people receiving the first shot and 1,922,313 getting full two jabs.

Valerie Mai