HCMC – The Ministry of Health confirmed 13,998 new Covid-19 infections this evening, December 4, including five imported cases and 13,993 domestic transmissions in 57 cities and provinces, increasing by over 330 cases from yesterday.
HCMC reported the most infections, at 1,636, followed by Can Tho with 998, Tay Ninh with 787, Ben Tre with 762, Binh Thuan with 626, Dong Thap with 624, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau with 620.
Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Binh Phuoc, Vinh Long, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Hanoi and Dong Nai detected 433-568 cases each, while other cities and provinces had fewer than 400 new infections each.
With the fresh cases recorded today, the country’s domestic transmissions have amounted to 1,289,511 in the fourth Covid wave, which began in late April. Meanwhile, the total case number since the beginning of the outbreak late last year has reached 1,294,778, ranking 35th among 223 countries and territories.
This afternoon, the Ministry of Health confirmed 203 more Covid deaths, taking the nation’s death toll to 26,061. The new deaths included 75 in HCMC, 20 in An Giang, 18 in Binh Duong, 15 in Can Tho, 13 in Dong Nai and 10 in Tien Giang. Fifteen other cities and provinces reported fewer than 10 deaths each.
To date, nearly 1,005,000 Covid patients have fully recovered, while there are currently nearly 6,790 critically ill Covid patients in the country.
Vietnam has administered 126.8 million doses of Covid vaccines nationwide so far. Some 73.1 million people have got two shots.
In HCMC, which is currently the country’s biggest Covid hotspot, the Department of Health announced yesterday that it has prepared a plan to enhance protection and care for people highly vulnerable to Covid infection, with an aim to reduce both new transmissions and fatalities.
The high-risk people comprise those aged 50 years or older, people that need long-term care at medical facilities, and people with underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease or weakened immune systems.
The city’s steering committee for Covid infection prevention and control will make a list of families whose members are among high-risk groups and provide them with rapid Covid test kits.
Besides, local medical centers will give the list of these households to the network of companion physicians so that the households will be offered remote health monitoring and consultancy.
This companion physician network is operated by the Vietnam Young Physicians Association and the Quick Response Information Team under the national steering committee for Covid infection prevention and control.
In Hanoi City, the local health authorities will deliver three bags of medicines to symptomatic Covid patients that are undergoing treatment and self-isolation at home.
According to the Hanoi Department of Health, bag A of medicines comprises paracetamol and vitamin C for people aged 18 years or older.
Meanwhile, bag B comprises dexamethason, methylprednisolone, or rivaroxaban for people aged 18 years or older. However, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people suffering from diseases related to kidneys, stomach or liver must not use these medicines.
Bag C contains the Molnupiravir antiviral.
