After an initial announcement released two days ago, Ho Chi Minh City officially extends the implementation of strict social distancing rules by one month.
During the national video conference on COVID-19 response on Sunday morning, Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said the number of daily new COVID-19 cases in HCMC decreased by 18% over the past 13 days (from 4,615 cases on average per day between July 20 and August 1 down to 3,830 cases per day from August 2-14).
“The imposition of social distancing rules has resulted in the reduction of 75% of vehicle traffic and brought the infection rate in lockdown areas down to 57%”, the chairman said.
Vice Secretary of the HCMC’s Party Committee added that the pandemic could become more severe if the city lets its guard down.
“Therefore, it’s essential that social distancing be applied to reduce the number of new cases and gradually bring the city to a 'new normal' state", he said.
The officials all agreed that people's awareness is the most important factor in this fight against COVID-19.
As of 6 PM on Sunday, the Ministry of Health confirmed 9,580 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the national patient tally to 275,044.
The latest patients were detected in 40 localities including Ho Chi Minh City (4,516), Binh Duong (2,358), Dong Nai (546), Long An (514), Dong Thap (271), Tien Giang (209), Can Tho (170), Khanh Hoa (166), Tay Ninh (159), Da Nang (83), Soc Trang (82), Ben Tre (60), Ha Noi (39), Binh Thuan (39), Quang Ngai (34), An Giang (34), Nghe An (27), Phu Yen (27), Quang Nam (26), Ninh Thuan (22), Binh Dinh (22), Bac Ninh (21), Kien Giang (19), Lao Cai (18), Ba Ria-Vung Tau (16), Ha Tinh (14), Dak Nong (13), Lam Dong (11), Hau Giang (10), Thua Thien-Hue (8), Quang Tri (8), Gia Lai (8), Ca Mau (6), Hai Duong (5), Binh Phuoc (4), Quang Binh (2), Thanh Hoa (2), Thai Binh (2), Ninh Binh (1), Hung Yen (1), and Bac Giang (1).
MoH also announced there were 5,519 patients that were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total recoveries to 102,504.
The ministry also recorded 337 new COVID-19 related deaths in Ho Chi Minh City (282), Binh Duong (20), Long An (9), Tien Giang (6), Dong Nai (5), Ba Ria-Vung Tau (3), Dong Thap (2), Soc Trang (2), Tra Vinh (2), Can Tho (1), Hai Phong (1), Ben Tre (1), Binh Phuoc (1), Khanh Hoa (1), and Quang Nam (1), raising the toll to 5,774.