HCMC – The Ministry of Health confirmed 16,325 new Covid-19 infections and a record of 50,191 new recoveries today, December 21.
Among the new Covid-19 cases, nine were imported and 16,316 were locally infected in 62 cities and provinces, up 1,350 cases day-on-day.
Hanoi recorded the highest case number, at 1,704, its highest-ever daily caseload as well. The capital was followed by Ca Mau with 1,590, Tay Ninh with 939, HCMC with 813 and Khanh Hoa with 798.
In addition, 797 cases were reported in Can Tho, 788 in Dong Thap, 606 in Ben Tre, 599 in Vinh Long and 507 in Bac Lieu.
Tra Vinh, Binh Dinh, Tien Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Thua Thien Hue, Thanh Hoa, Soc Trang and Hau Giang detected 325-485 cases each, while other cities and provinces had fewer than 300 new infections each.
With the new domestic infections, the country’s Covid-19 tally has risen to nearly 1.57 million in the fourth Covid wave, including some 1.16 million recoveries.
Today alone, 50,191 Covid-19 patients were confirmed to have recovered from Covid-19, while there are currently 7,740 critically ill Covid patients in the country.
The Ministry of Health also reported 250 Covid-19 deaths, including 58 in HCMC, 31 in Tay Ninh, 20 in Dong Nai, 15 in Tien Giang, 14 in Binh Duong, 12 in Can Tho, 11 in Kien Giang and 10 in Soc Trang. Eighteen other localities had fewer than 10 Covid fatalities each.
In related news, the HCMC Department of Health has asked the municipal Center for Disease Control (HCDC), public hospitals and medical centers of Thu Duc City and districts to review and report the purchase of Covid-19 test kits and other equipment from Viet A Technology Corporation, if any.
Units were required to report the type, quantity and price of products as well as purchasing methods and time of purchase no later than December 22.
The move was made after the HCMC government directed the municipal Department of Health and the inspectorate to inspect the import, trade and sale of rapid and RT-PCR test kits.
At a press briefing on December 20, deputy director of HCDC Nguyen Hong Tam affirmed that the center did not buy and use test kits manufactured by Viet A Technology Corporation due to the high price.
However, some hospitals, including Pham Ngoc Thach and Thu Duc City Hospitals, have bought test kits from the company.
During the fourth Covid wave, HCMC has seen a high demand for test kits. From April 27 to September 15, the city took nearly two million samples for RT-PCR tests and 9.5 million samples for quick tests.
