Vietnam’s prevention and control strategy of the spread of COVID-19 was so successful in 2020 that the country only recorded less than 3,000 infections and 35 deaths. Today, after four months of battling its fourth wave, Vietnam’s cases have now surpassed 500,000.
The Ministry of Health confirmed 14,922 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, raising the national patient tally to 501,649 — 218,514 of which are active cases.
The latest patients consist of 28 imported cases and 14,894 domestic infections in Ho Chi Minh City (8,499), Binh Duong (3,676), Dong Nai (896), Long An (654), Tay Ninh (267), Tien Giang (154), Kien Giang (104), Dong Thap (82), Da Nang (81), Binh Thuan (75), An Giang (62), Khanh Hoa (61), Ha Noi (58), Ba Ria-Vung Tau (39), Nghe An (37), Quang Ngai (24), Phu Yen (19), Binh Dinh (17), Thanh Hoa (15), Can Tho (10), Gia Lai (10), Dak Nong (9), Binh Phuoc (8), Vinh Long (8), Tra Vinh (5), Ha Tinh (5), Ben Tre (5), Ca Mau (4), Quang Nam (3), Nam Dinh (2), Bac Lieu (2), Bac Ninh (1), Hau Giang (1), and Bac Giang (1).
Of the domestic cases recorded today, more than 9200 were detected in the community. On the same day, MoH announced 11,344 new recoveries, taking the total number of recovered patients to 270,668.
Current death toll stands at 12,476, including today’s 338 fatalities.
Ramping up large-scale testing
MoH on Friday also urged 23 cities and provinces under social distancing order to ramp up their mass testing for COVID-19, especially in areas identified as high-risk.
The Vietnamese government had previously explained that the increasing daily number of reported infections were due to local communities’ mass testing program. It said that the early detection of cases will limit the risk of transmission.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Can Tho, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh,Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Long An, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa are the localities under strict mobility restrictions.
HCMC, which accounts for more than 48% of the cases, has implemented a 24/7 curfew across all its districts since August 23. Military personnel and volunteers have been deployed to help in purchasing and distributing food and other essential goods to households.
All localities have been told to put the outbreak under control by September 15.
MoH instructed at least three rounds of COVID-19 sample collection for all residents in extremely high-risk areas.
The ministry also called upon recovered COVID-19 patients to join frontline forces in fighting against the pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said that engagement of recovered patients in this fight would be a great help to the southern metropolis’ overwhelmed medical sector.
Those who would be willing to volunteer can contact the city’s Department of Health at 028.393.09967 or 0907.574.269.