HCMC – The Ministry of Health confirmed 14,872 new Covid-19 cases this evening, December 27, the lowest over the past six days.
The new infections included five imported cases and 14,867 local transmissions in 59 cities and provinces, down 315 cases against yesterday.
Hanoi still recorded the biggest number of new infections for the ninth consecutive days with 1,948 cases, followed by Tay Ninh with 943, Haiphong with 931, Vinh Long with 892, Khanh Hoa with 791, Can Tho with 711 and Dong Thap with 701.
Bac Lieu, HCMC, Tra Vinh, Binh Dinh and Ca Mau detected 433-595 cases each, while other cities and provinces had fewer than 400 cases each.
The country has recorded over 1.66 million Covid cases in the fourth wave of the pandemic, which began in late April 2021. Of the total, some 1.26 million patients have made a full recovery, including 11,374 people today.
Meanwhile, 204 Covid-19 deaths were recorded today, sending the country’s total Covid-19 deaths to over 31,400. Of the new fatalities, 30 were in HCMC, 22 in An Giang, 17 in Dong Nai, 15 in Binh Duong, 14 in Tay Ninh, 13 each in Soc Trang and Tien Giang, 12 each in Vinh Long and Kien Giang, and 11 each in Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Can Tho. Ten other localities had fewer than 10 Covid deaths each.
The numbers of new Covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths in HCMC have fallen over the past few days. The city has recorded fewer than 1,000 cases per day for eight consecutive days.
According to Dr Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, deputy director of the municipal Department of Health, the results were thanks to the city’s vaccination and treatment solutions and especially a campaign to protect people with a high risk of infection.
However, the decline may not be long due to the appearance of new variants and the possible drug or vaccine resistance. Therefore, vulnerable people should be protected from being infected with the coronavirus. If they get infected, they must be treated early.
In related news, the southern province of Binh Phuoc has worked out a plan to concurrently treat 10,000-20,000 Covid-19 cases.
Specifically, the province will improve hospitals’ admission and treatment capacity, aiming to minimize the number of critical patients and deaths, while bolstering the treatment of asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms at their homes.
In addition, anti-pandemic measures will be enhanced at industrial parks, schools, enterprises, clinics, traditional wet markets, supermarkets and coach stations.
The province will also administer the additional and booster shots to local residents and propose the Ministry of Health support the province in medical equipment and human resources and provide guidelines on Covid-19 treatment.
The provincial government ordered the regular update of the Covid-19 transmission risk and the enhancement of anti-pandemic measures. Unnecessary activities gathering a large number of people and entertainment and religious activities in high-risk areas will be suspended, while production and business activities must be maintained in a safe mode.
Binh Phuoc has a population of over one million people. It has recorded more than 20,000 Covid-19 cases, including over 15,000 recoveries and 53 deaths. The province is treating nearly 5,000 Covid-19 patients.
