HCMC – The Ministry of Health today, October 26, reported 3,595 new Covid-19 infections, with three of them imported and 3,592 locally detected in 49 cities and provinces, down by 28 cases over yesterday.
HCMC recorded the biggest number, at 783, down by 186 cases day-on-day. It was followed by Binh Duong with 528 cases, Dong Nai with 481 cases and An Giang with 290 cases.
Moreover, 162 other cases were confirmed in Daklak, 121 in Tien Giang, 120 in Tay Ninh, 118 in Kien Giang, 108 in Tra Vinh and 106 in Bac Lieu. Other localities had less than 70 cases each.
Today, 2,161 cases were found at quarantine facilities or in areas under lockdown, while the source of transmission of over 1,431 cases was unknown.
The new cases has sent the country’s Covid caseload in the fourth wave to 891,389, with 807,473 of them having recovered.
Today, 2,989 Covid patients were released from hospitals.
The Ministry of Health also confirmed 64 more Covid deaths, taking the nation’s total to 21,802. The new deaths included 27 in HCMC, 14 in Binh Duong, four in Dong Nai, three in each of Tien Giang, Long An, Bac Lieu, Tay Ninh and An Giang, and one in each of Ninh Thuan, Can Tho, Ca Mau and Nghe An.
According to the Ministry of Health’s latest statistics, the numbers of extremely-high risk and high-risk communes and wards have risen 10% and 20%, respectively, as many low- and moderate-risk areas have recorded new Covid-19 cases and clusters.
In a document sent to cities and provinces today, the ministry asked them to enhance the monitoring of residents returning from localities with high numbers of Covid-19 infections to quickly detect and quarantine Covid-19 cases.
In addition, the healthcare system must be improved and the vaccination accelerated.
On the same day, the Ministry of Health also required localities to ensure the admission and treatment of Covid-19 patients, as well as sufficient beds and medical oxygen at medical centers at all levels.
Medical centers within their precincts should periodically conduct Covid-19 tests to early detect Covid-19 cases.
In HCMC, many public and private hospitals have converted their quarantine areas into Covid-19 wards to get prepared for the long fight against the pandemic and ensure normal medical checkup and treatment services.
Field hospitals in districts should also be maintained to admit Covid-19 patients and replace field hospitals of the city.
In the new normal, the city will establish three three-level Covid-19 field hospitals by restructuring field hospitals Nos. 16, 13 and 14 and intensive care units, which had been earlier managed by the Bach Mai, Viet Duc and Hue Central Hospitals and have been handed over to HCMC. Patients will not need moving to other hospitals if they get worse.
