219 new COVID-19 cases detected as daily infection count climbs to 545
VOV.VN - A further 219 people, including 9 entrants to the country, tested positive for the SASR-CoV-2 virus on the evening of July 2, thereby lifting the daily infection count to 545, according to figures given by the Ministry of Health.
Ho Chi Minh City continued to register the highest number of fresh infections with 419 cases on July 2 alone, the majority of which are linked to individuals who came into contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients or who are linked with previous outbreaks.
Elsewhere, the cases found in other provinces are either F1 contacts of infected patients or were detected in areas currently under lockdown, including industrial parks.
Following the latest infections, the overall number of active COVID-19 cases nationwide rose to 18,121, including 1,836 imported cases, along with 16,285 locally-transmitted ones.
The death toll also increased to 84 following the confirmation of three more fatalities relating to COVID-19, including two in HCM City and one in the northern province of Bac Ninh.
Causes of their death were attributed to pre-existing underlying health conditions, and severe pneumonia with complications caused by COVID-19.
An additional 148 were discharged from hospital after making a successful recovery from the disease, taking the total recoveries to 7,395.
The same day saw more than 900 out of 12,000 volunteers participate in the second stage of the third phase for the locally-produced COVID-19 vaccine Nano Covax, with subjects getting their first shots as part of the clinical trial.
All volunteers are expected to receive their initial jabs by July 15, with the second shots being administered by August 15.
The health of 1,000 volunteers who were inoculated during the first stage of the third phase remains stable, with participants expected to get their second jabs on July 10.
All volunteers will have blood samples taken to test their immunity by July 30, with data about vaccine safety and antibody generation set to be made available by mid-September.
Results of the first two stages so far indicate strong immunity generation among all volunteers.
Nano Covax has been under development by the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC since May, 2020.
