COVID-19: 805 new cases recorded, new treatment guidelines in force
VOV.VN - An additional 805 people have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 12 cities and provinces across Vietnam during the past 12 hours, raising the national tally of infections to 38,239.
Of the newly-detected cases, 801 were locally acquired and four were imported, according to the Ministry of Health in its 06.00am COVID-19 update on July 15.
Most of the local infections were documented in southern localities, with Ho Chi Minh City registering 603 cases, Dong Nai 72, Dong Thap 36, Ba Ria – Vung Tau 17, An Giang 8, and Ninh Thuan 7.
Elsewhere, 11 cases were recorded in Hanoi capital, mostly linked to the ongoing outbreak at Thang Long industrial park.
The northern province of Hung Yen also reported 10 infections in quarantine or lockdown areas.
Meanwhile, four Vietnamese nationals returning from overseas have tested positive in An Giang and Ninh Binh over the past 12 hours.
Vietnam is grappling with the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which is evolving in a complex manner. Ho Chi Minh City is the epicenter of the country’s fresh outbreak, registering more than 2,000 cases for the first time on July 14.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows Vietnam has logged 34,710 positive cases in 58 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide following the resurgence of the virus on April 27.
Overall it has confirmed a total of 38,239 cases since the virus attacked the country in January 2020.
Six deaths were announced on July 14, raising national death toll to 138.
As many as 9,624 patients have recovered from the disease.
New COVID-19 treatment guidelines in force
The Ministry of Health on July 14 issued new COVID-19 treatment guidelines to cope with a sharp increase in the number of active cases in Vietnam.
Worthy of note is that the ministry allowed healthcare facilities to shorten the treatment period for asymptomatic patients to 10 days.
Asymptomatic F0 cases will be discharged from hospital for home quarantine if they test negative twice, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said.
In addition he said active cases with a low viral load may be also discharged for medical surveillance and treatment at home.
The health official noted in these cases, "the possibility of infecting people around is very low, extremely low” but warned they should frequently monitor their health status and notify any healthcare agency if virus like symptoms develop.
Healthcare workers were also required to regularly come and test these cases at home to see if they are unlikely to infect others.
Data from the Ministry of Health show more than 80% of active cases only show mild clinical symptoms, and some cases even display no symptoms at all.