HCMC – The Ministry of Health this evening, December 18 confirmed 15,895 fresh Covid cases, with 12 of them imported and 15,883 locally infected in 60 cities and provinces, up 668 cases over yesterday.
Among the domestic cases, Ca Mau Province reported the highest number at 1,341, followed by Hanoi City with 1,244, up 709 cases day-on-day, HCMC with 1,019 and Tay Ninh with 941.
Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Can Tho, Binh Phuoc, Khanh Hoa and Vinh Long provinces detected around 590-830 infections each, while the rest were reported in other localities.
The ministry also reported 248 new Covid fatalities, raising the country’s death toll to 29,351.
The latest Covid deaths included 65 in HCMC, 24 in Dong Nai, 23 in An Giang, 15 each in Tien Giang and Kien Giang, 14 in Binh Duong, 12 each in Dong Thap and Can Tho and 11 in Soc Trang. Eleven other provinces and cities reported fewer than 10 deaths each.
Since the current fourth wave of the Covid pandemic began in Vietnam in late April, the country has reported some 1.52 million domestic cases, with over 1.09 million patients having recovered from the disease.
Over 80% of Vietnam’s adult population have been fully vaccinated against Covid, the local media reported.
As of this morning, the country had administered more than 137.5 million doses of the Covid vaccine.
In related news, the HCMC government today issued an urgent dispatch announcing that the city is still at moderate risk of Covid transmission, while District 10 upgraded its pandemic transmission risk level from moderate to high.
The districts of 3, 6, 7, 8, Tan Binh, Tan Phu, Binh Chanh, Can Gio, Cu Chi and Hoc Mon reported a low risk.
Ten other districts, including 1, 4, 5, 11, 12, Binh Tan, Binh Thanh, Go Vap, Phu Nhuan, Nha Be and Thu Duc City were at moderate risk, according to the dispatch.
Elsewhere in Hanoi City, Hai Ba Trung District has upgraded its pandemic transmission risk level from moderate to high, while Long Bien, Soc Son, Thach That and Phu Xuyen districts and Son Tay Town have upgraded their levels from low to moderate.
Two districts in the city, including Dong Da, are pegged as high risk, while 24 other districts are at moderate risk. The city is at moderate risk of Covid transmission.
In another development, the Ministry of Health has written to the Government Office proposing the Government consider suspending non-essential events and activities that attract big crowds, and entertainment services, festivals and religious events in cities and provinces with high risk of pandemic transmission during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
