JULY 8: Vietnam’s Covid-19 infections sets new record, at 1,307

Vietnam recorded 1,307 locally-transmitted coronavirus cases on Thursday [July 8], the highest-ever daily infections since early 2020, with the two-thirds detected in Ho Chi Minh City.

Testing in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Pham Ngon/Zing

The newest cases bring the tally in the southern economic hub to 9,066, followed by Bac Giang 5,687, Bac Ninh 1,636, Binh Duong 1,053, Hanoi 488, and Dong Thap 433.

The Covid-19 outbreak has swept 19 southern cities and provinces.

With today's infections, the country’s total figure reached 24,385, including 8,950 convalescents.

As of July 7, Vietnam reported 376 patients on the critical list, accounting for 3.3% of the total patients. One-third of the figure is at death’s door. According to Dr. Nguyen Van Tuan, Senior Principal Research Fellow, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Australia, the rate of severe patients in Vietnam remains low, at 3% compared to 17% of the world average.

So far, the Covid-19 has claimed 105 deaths, including 70 in the fresh outbreak that broke out in late April.

Extending medical support to Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has intensified its support to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) while the locality is battling Covid-19 with rising community infections.

The Ministry of Health said it will send 10,000 health workers to support HCMC in the fight against Covid-19.

On July 8, a group of 30 health professionals of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (NHTD), the leading hospital in Vietnam for treating Covid-19 patients, departed Hanoi for the southern city.

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long today asked HCMC to get ready for the treatment of severe Covid-19 patients, requiring 1,000 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines and intensive care units (ICU) in every hospital in the city.

The Ministry of Health said it was preparing for the worst situation with ventilators, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC), oxygen, drugs, chemicals, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Long also asked southern cities and provinces to set up ICU in each locality. In a short time, it requires one for the southeastern part to be located in Dong Nai Province and the other for the southwest located in Can Tho City.

Hanoi's outdoor physical exercises suspended

Public exercises in Hanoi. Photo: Zing

Due to the resurgence of Covid-19, Hanoi suspended outdoor physical exercises from July 8 after near two weeks of resumption. To keep supervision on the issue, there are Covid-19 checkpoints in the parks and public places, schools, markets, trade plazas, and industrial parks.

So far, only indoor dining and café shop are allowed to open.

From late April, Hanoi closed non-essential services, including bars, karaoke lounges, game stations, and gyms.

Also from July 8, Hanoi suspended operations of coaches to 14 affected cities and provinces namely Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Dak Lak, Quang Ngai, Danang, Thua Thien-Hue, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, and Ha Nam. Meanwhile, vehicles transporting experts, laborers of enterprises, public agencies, and IPs are allowed.

Vaccine support

Concerning vaccine support by international donors, Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today that Vietnam highly appreciates the US and Japan for donating three million Covid-19 vaccine doses and the COVAX Facility for its commitments.

“Vietnam welcomes, appreciates, and hopes that countries and international organizations uphold the spirit of solidarity and responsibility to enhance sharing of information, technology, finance, health, especially vaccines to prevent and control this dangerous disease together,” Hang said in the Thursday press conference.

So far, Vietnam has received nearly 4.4 million Covid-19 vaccine doses of four kinds, including Pfizer imported, AstraZeneca imported and from COVAX, Sputnik V donated by Russia (2,000 doses), and Vero Cell by China’s Sinopharm (500,000 doses), according to the spokesperson.

Coronavirus infections in Vietnam. Source: MoH. Chart: Minh Vu