• As of August 18, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 983 cases of COVID-19. However, 467 of the affected patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Vietnam has also recorded 24 deaths due to the pandemic. The latest local cases have been reported from Da Nang, Hanoi, Hai Duong, and Quang Nam.
  • Authorities in Hanoi will impose social distancing measures at cafes, restaurants, and pubs from August 19. Customers will be required to sit one meter apart, while staff will be required to wear masks.
  • Vietnam has registered to buy between 50 million and 150 million doses of Russia’s ‘Sputnik-V’ COVID-19 vaccine, though it’s unclear when these will be delivered.
  • Authorities in Dak Lak province lifted social distancing measuring in its capital city Buon Ma Thuot as well as a lockdown of four streets from August 17.
  • Authorities in Hai Duong city have imposed a lockdown since August 14 after new cases were detected there since August 7.
  • Low-cost carrier VietJet began evacuating more than 800 tourists stuck in Da Nang on August 13. Four flights have been planned for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Businesses in Vietnam owed US$887.6 million in social insurance premiums due to the pandemic as of July 2020 as per Vietnam Social Insurance (VSI).
  • Da Nang city authorities have extended social distancing measures for another two weeks from August 11. Da Nang residents are also being asked to go markets once every three days to prevent large gatherings.
  • Non-essential activities such as bars, clubs, karaoke parlors, and festive activities were banned from August 11 in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan as per the authorities. Similar measures were also implemented on August 10 in Khanh Hoa province.
  • Da Nang city authorities have decided to carry out COVID-19 tests on all residents, including foreigners. City authorities have also built one field hospital in Hoa Vang district and the second one in Hai Chau district, which came into operation on August 4.
  • Vietnam’s Immigration Department has announced another automatic stay extension for foreigners stranded in Vietnam due to the pandemic until August 31. The measure applies to those who entered since March 1 allowing them to leave the country without any penalty or official procedures. Those that have entered prior to March 1 are also eligible provided they show documents by their embassies or by Vietnamese authorities to confirm they were quarantined or treated for COVID-19.