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A worker at clothing factory Haivina in Gia Lộc District, Hải Dương Province, is tested for COVID-19 before resuming work. — VNA/VNS Photo Mạnh Minh HÀ NỘI — With the local COVID-19 outbreaks gradually being brought under control, the northern province of Hải Dương will lift some restrictions in certain areas on March 3, after 15 days of stringent province-wide lockdown measures. Since January 27, the province has recorded over 600 COVID-19 local infections (nearly 300 have recovered), becoming the largest outbreak in the country since the pandemic began early last year, mostly centred around a number of hotspots. Phạm Xuân Thăng, Secretary of Hải Dương Party Committee, at Monday's meeting on COVID-19, said the outbreaks in the province are gradually being brought under control: “It’s time the fight against the pandemic turns to a new chapter, maintaining a balance between socio-economic development and keeping the pandemic in check." Hải Dương Party Committee said the anti-pandemic measures must cause the least possible disruptions to socio-economic development, the flow of goods, and business activities in the province. Hải Dương authorities agreed to divide the localities in the province into two groups under different restrictions depending on the COVID-19 risks. Four high-risk localities, including Hải Dương City, Kinh Môn township, Cẩm Giàng District and Kim Thành, will be placed under the Government’s Directive 15, the highest level of social distancing first introduced in March last year when the country entered nationwide lockdown. The directive prescribes limiting large gatherings, meetings with over 20 people in-doors or 10 people outdoors, maintaining two metres distance between individuals in public places, non-essential services are shut down, public passenger transport are halted, and travel is heavily restricted. The remaining eight localities in the province will follow the less restrictive Government’s Directive 19 on social …

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The Hanoitimes - 145 hotels in Vietnam signed up as isolation centers for the coronavirus-infected people. According to the General Department of Tourism, as of March 22, up to 145 hotels across the country have volunteered to host quarantined people. A receptionist is guiding the guests to fill out the medical declaration form. Hotels mobilized to serve as mass quarantine facilities are two- to five-star ones in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Quang Ninh and Dong Nai. These accommodation facilities pledged to quote prices of their services. This list of the paid quarantine centers will be reported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to select and turn them into isolation facilities. On March 20, the Ministry of Health issued instructions under which if a person wishes undergo the mandatory quarantine at a hotel, he/she needs pay room charges and other services. The quarantine period is 14 days from entry or final contact with people suspected of contracting the coronavirus. Hotels used for isolation will not serve other purposes and ensure essential living conditions such as electricity, water, sanitation, bathroom, ventilation, as well as being safe and convenient for accessing. They are required to set up checkpoints, security teams and hang the warning sign “Authorized personnel only”. Unauthorized people are prohibited from entering the hotel. The hotels have to establish disinfection point for means of transport at the hotel entrance. All vehicles entering and leaving the hotel should be disinfected. The area for isolated people needs to be separated from other functional areas such as reception, living, kitchen, dining room and bars entrance of unauthorized people. At the same time, the hotel are asked to erect fences to control people entering and leaving the quarantine area. Hotel staff will be trained to serve …

[Read more...] about 145 hotels across Vietnam register to become quarantine places

Foreign tourists mainly were technical experts and skilled workers who are allowed to enter Vietnam to work, and truck drivers transporting goods through international border gates. In the first two months, the country welcomed 28,700 foreign visitors, a year-on-year decrease of 99.1 percent. According to the report, HCMC saw a decline of 14.1 percent, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province and Da Nang City decreased 15.9 and 16.1 percent, Hanoi and Hai Duong slid 7.6 and 7.8 percent compared with last year. Tourism revenue fell 62.1 percent over the same period last year to VND2,500 billion (US$108.6 million). The most severe drops were seen in Hanoi at 47.7 percent, Da Nang by 67.7 percent, HCMC by 69.2 percent, Thua Thien-Hue Province by 73.3 percent and Hai Duong Province by 89.4. The tourism industry has proposed many preferential policies to support travel firms and laborers that have been severely affected by the Covid-19. However, there was not much support and many businesses could not receive these preferential treatments. A further decline is expected in the coming months, said the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). At the present, more than 500 enterprises that can not continue their operations have proposed for the withdrawal of the certificate of business registration. In addition, 90-95 percent of travel agencies have stopped operating as a result of the crisis. The tourism sector must spend 5-7 years to recover the workforce. A large number of laborers in the hospitality industry have to move for a new job. Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that the tourism industry needs to develop key solutions and long-term plan until the next five years, such as putting the Support Fund into operation, restructuring the tourism industry, building tourist products and smart ecotourism system, implementing digital transformation in boosting Vietnamese tourism. He asked the VNAT to coordinate with Ninh Binh …

[Read more...] about Number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in February falls sharply