The Ministry of Health reported 3,718 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the country's total tally to 45,884 domestic and 2,020 imported cases.

An additional 16 southern provinces and cities will apply social distancing under Directive 16 from midnight on July 19.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has instructed ministries and local administrations around the country to create favourable conditions for local people who went to HCM City, Cần Thơ and southern provinces for work and other reasons to return home since the COVID-19 outbreak remains unpredictable.

Hà Nội’s agricultural sector has been strengthened to support local co-operatives and businesses to develop a traceability system for farm produce, forestry and aquatic products.

With the number of COVID-19 cases continuing to sharply increase and the national caseload surpassing the 40,000 mark, Việt Nam is under pressure to do all it can to control the pandemic.

Digital technology and innovation play an important role in increasing production efficiency, productivity, food safety and distribution, as well as in connecting producers with consumers, according to Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh.

For Vietnamese Stature Foundation and the Centre for Supporting Green Development have launched a contest for innovative environmental communication on the theme of reducing plastic waste.

The fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Việt Nam starting from late April was longer and left much more negative impacts on daily life as well as socio-economic development than the previous waves, said Health Minister Nguyễn Thanh Long.