HCMC – The Ministry of Health this evening, March 1, confirmed 98,762 new Covid cases, with 19 of them imported and 98,743 locally infected in all cities and provinces nationwide, up 4,367 cases over yesterday.
Hanoi City still recorded the highest number at 13,323, its highest single-day Covid-19 caseload. The capital was followed by Quang Ninh with 4,011 cases, Bac Ninh with 3,933, Nghe An with 3,864 and Lao Cai with 3,398.
In addition, Hung Yen, Son La and Nam Dinh detected 3,393, 3,087 and 3,072 cases, respectively. Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen, Hoa Binh and Lang Son were among the localities that recorded more than 2,000 cases each.
Moreover, the Department of Health of Ha Giang Province today added 15,382 cases detected earlier to the national Covid tally management system.
The new cases have sent the country’s Covid tally in the fourth wave to over 3.55 million, including some 2.48 million recoveries.
Today alone, 40,932 Covid-19 patients were announced to have fully recovered.
Today, the Ministry of Health confirmed 86 more Covid deaths, taking the nation’s death toll to more than 40,300. Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Danang, Hai Duong and Ninh Binh reported the most fatalities today.
In related news, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said the ministry would this month sign a contract with Pfizer to procure 21.9 million Covid vaccine doses for children aged between five and 11 and seven million doses would be handed over to Vietnam this quarter.
The remaining 14.9 million doses are expected to be shipped to Vietnam next month. Once receiving the vaccine, the Ministry of Health will administer the vaccine to this age group.
Associate Professor Duong Thi Hong, deputy head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said the vaccination would help children reduce the risks of contracting Covid-19 and getting worse if infected. Therefore, the healthcare sector expected the vaccination rate at this age group to reach 95%.
The vaccination of children aged between five and 11 is not compulsory but the Ministry of Health will provide scientific evidence to persuade parents to allow their children to get vaccinated.
