HCMC – Vietnam’s Covid caseload has reached over 2.07 million as the Ministry of Health this evening, January 19 reported 15,959 fresh cases, down over 800 cases against yesterday.
Among the latest cases, 23 were imported and 15,936 were locally infected in 61 cities and provinces.
Hanoi City took the lead by the number of domestic cases at 2,909, followed by Danang with 892, Khanh Hoa with 652, Thanh Hoa with 628 and Tra Vinh with 603.
Hung Yen, Ben Tre and Binh Phuoc detected over 500 infections each, while the rest were found in other localities.
Vietnam has reported 108 Omicron-hit cases, including three first cases in the community detected in HCMC today.
Over 33,030 Covid patients were discharged from hospitals nationwide today, raising the total recoveries to nearly 1.8 million.
The ministry also reported 142 new Covid fatalities, including 16 in Dong Thap, 12 in Kien Giang, 11 in Vinh Long and 10 in Ben Tre. Other localities reported fewer than 10 deaths.
The country’s death toll now stands at 36,114, accounting for 1.7% of total infections.
In related news, Hanoi City is set to allow students in grades 7 to 12 to return to school after the Lunar New Year holiday, director of the municipal Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong told a teleconference held by the Ministry of Education and Training today.
The city has nearly three million students, Cuong said.
Over 99% of teachers and education staff have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, while over 97% of students at secondary and high schools have got two doses of the Covid vaccine, the local media reported.
Given the high Covid vaccine coverage, 70% of parents in the city have agreed to allow their children to get back to in-person classes, according to Cuong.
Meanwhile, HCMC is planning to reopen kindergartens and primary schools after the Tet holiday.
Under the plan to reopen kindergartens, the HCMC Department of Education and Training is set to allow children aged 3-6 to get back to in-person classes first. Depending on the Covid situation, children under 3 will be allowed to return to kindergartens after that.
Kindergartens might be allowed to offer semi-boarding services, but not to provide kindergarteners with breakfast meals.
