HCMC – The Ministry of Health confirmed 23,956 new Covid-19 cases this evening, February 9, in all localities but Soc Trang Province, with 23,953 being locally-infected cases, up 2,052 cases day-on-day, and the rest being imported cases.
Among the new infections, the source of transmission of over 16,600 cases remains unknown.
The capital city of Hanoi again took the lead with 2,949 cases, followed by Nghe An with 1,900 cases. Haiphong, Hai Duong, Ha Tinh each recorded 1,000-1,200 cases. Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh, and Danang each had over 900 cases.
Since the pandemic began hitting the country, more than 2.4 million cases have been reported, including over 2.3 million cases recorded in the fourth wave.
Around 2.1 million patients have fully recovered from Covid including the latest 69,825 recoveries, while 38,600 have lost their lives including 93 fatalities announced today.
In related news, cinemas, arts and cultural performance venues in Hanoi were allowed to reopen starting tomorrow, February 10.
Besides this, Huong Pagoda, which is located in Huong Son Commune, My Duc District of Hanoi, will reopen to visitors starting from February 16, after being suspended for nearly 20 days to prevent the spread of Covid, according to the municipal government’s decision made on February 8 following the proposal of My Duc District on the issue.
The annual pilgrimage festival to the pagoda will remain closed to ensure Covid safety, said a local official.
Earlier, on January 25, the government of My Duc announced that the pilgrimage festival was suspended and the pagoda would stop receiving visitors given the impact of the pandemic. This is the second straight year that the largest and longest festival in the north was suspended due to coronavirus concerns.
The pilgrimage festival to Huong Pagoda starts from the sixth day of the lunar year and lasts for three months.
Two days ago, ride-hailing motorbike services in Hanoi were allowed to resume. Also, the capital city resumed bus services with full capacity on the same day.
In another development, the Ministry of National Defense received 300,000 doses of the Vero-Cell Covid vaccine presented by its Chinese counterpart at a ceremony held at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on February 8.
