HCMC – Vietnam again set a daily record for Covid-19 infections as 118,790 new cases were reported this evening, March 3, with 118,780 cases being locally infected, up an astounding 8,500 cases day-on-day, said the Ministry of Health.
The domestic infections were reported in all provinces and cities across the country but the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau.
The capital city of Hanoi recorded the highest number of cases, at 18,661, up over 3,500 cases against yesterday. The north-central province of Nghe An came second with 6,152 cases, up over 1,800 cases versus the previous day, followed by Bac Ninh with 5,648 cases. Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, HCMC were among seven localities that reported over 3,000 cases each.
In the day, the health authorities of Hai Duong and Thai Binh registered to add 29,360 cases and 28,000 cases, respectively, to the national Covid monitoring system.
Until now, the country’s Covid tally has exceeded 3.8 million cases. Of them, more than 2.55 million cases have fully recovered while 40,547 others have died of the coronavirus, including the latest 95 deaths announced in the day.
In related news, over 50,000 rapid Covid test kits have been distributed to schools in HCMC to detect possible Covid cases, who develop at least two of the following Covid symptoms: fever, coughing, sore throat, running nose, fatigue, body aches, loss of taste or smell, and shortness of breath among others.
The HCMC Department of Education and Training today, March 3, provided each school in the city with 20 test kits, following the directive of the municipal government. Each school will receive extra kits if the allocated amount is used up, reported VnExpress.
Aside from the provided test kits, most of the schools have acquired 50-100 kits each.
The allocation of test kits was made after many schools could not afford to purchase test kits amid a spike in cases after local schools reopened.
Yesterday, the municipal government adjusted guidelines on control of Covid cases and direct contacts of Covid patients at schools.
Accordingly, schools will use their backup test kits to detect probable Covid cases, while local health authorities will test those in close contact with confirmed Covid patients.
Students being direct contacts will self-quarantine at home for five days if they are fully vaxxed, or for seven days if they are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. These students will attend virtual classes. When they complete the quarantine period, their parents will help them to take a rapid test and send the testing results to their teachers.
Up to now, the number of Covid cases among students in HCMC has reached nearly 10,000 and continued to rise after students returned to schools after the Tet holiday.
