Additional 16,157 COVID-19 cases added to national tally, over 30,800 recover

The majority of new cases were detected in Hanoi with 1,834, marking the fourth consecutive day that the capital has led the way in terms of infection numbers.

The past week has seen Hanoi detect over 4,200 positive cases through rapid testing. Since the fourth pandemic wave started on April 29, the capital has detected a total of 32,044 active cases, of which 11,639 were recorded outside the community and 20,405 cases were found positive in isolation facilities.

Elsewhere, the three localities reporting the highest number behind Hanoi include Ca Mau with 1,334 cases, Tay Ninh with 948 cases, and Vinh Long with 868 cases.

The past 24 hours has seen a total of 235 COVID-19 pass away to bring the national COVID-19 death toll up to 30,766 or 1.9% of all infections.

During the latest wave that hit the country in late April, more than 1.61 million cases have been confirmed and around 1.21 million have since recovered.

The same day saw the Ministry of Health also announce the discharge of 30,833 recoveries, thereby taking the total number of recovered cases up to 1,215,261.

As of December 23, a total of 143,520,464 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, with over 64.8 million people now fully inoculated.

Elsewhere in Ho Chi Minh City, in order to strengthen immunity against the pandemic, the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has adjusted the organisation of vaccinations with additional and repeated doses.

In line with this, the time for booster vaccinations has been shortened from six months to three months for people over 18 years old.

Priority groups for booster vaccinations include people in at-risk groups, those who directly test, care for, and treat COVID-19 patients, medical staff, and frontline forces fighting against the pandemic.

On December 24, the Ministry of Health issued medical guidelines in line with COVID-19 prevention and control measures for people permitted to enter the country to work for a short period, under 14 days.

The Ministry of Health stated that short-term visitors will not be required to undergo medical isolation, but must strictly and fully comply with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

The guidelines will be applied to people who are allowed to enter the nation for short-term work, including people who enter for diplomatic or official purposes; people who enter the country for non-diplomatic purposes, such as investors, experts, skilled workers, business managers, traders, traders, market researchers, relatives; and people who come into contact with short-term immigrants.