Many streets in HCM City, the country's COVID-19 hotspot, were busy on Friday (October 1) after the city relaxed social distancing measures, planning to enter "a new normal" period.

Deputy Prime Minister Lê Minh Khái has agreed to release funds for the purchase, transportation and delivery of five million doses of COVID-19 vaccine Abdala produced by the Cuban Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

The Hà Nội Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) announced five community cases on Friday morning, including three foreigners.

HCM City will arrange for vehicles to pick up workers from other provinces and bring them back to the city after the country’s COVID-19 hotspot on Friday began relaxing social distancing measures.

People in HCM City are now able to leave their homes after three months of strict pandemic prevention restrictions.

The Government has just issued Resolution No. 116/NQ-CP on policies to support employees and employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, according to which unemployment insurance fund will spend US$1.3 million on supporting employees and employers. Deputy General Director of Việt Nam Social Insurance Lê Hùng Sơn talks to the media about the meaning, beneficiaries and necessary procedures of this support package.