COVID-19: Daily caseload falls sharply to 4,589 over 24 hours

The Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed in its 06.00Pm coronavirus update that only 4,589 people have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the past 24 hours.

The figure represents a sharp fall of more than 5,000 cases compared to the previous days. Vietnam recorded more than 10,000 cases daily on average.

Of the newly detected infections, only 717 cases were diagnosed in the community through random testing or test screening. Six people tested positive after returning from overseas, and the rest were documented in quarantine or lockdown areas. 

Binh Duong, an industrial complex in the south, overtook Ho Chi Minh City, registering 2,575 new cases.

Meanwhile, HCM City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, only reported 377, an amazing daily figure compared to between 4,000-5,000 cases recorded previously.

However, the past 24 hours also saw HCM City detect 3,417 F0 cases through rapid antigen tests done in high-risk areas. These cases are yet to be labelled by the Ministry of Health.

Elsewhere, Dong Nai, An Giang and Long An remain hotspots in the south, documenting 787, 232 and 159 cases respectively.

The outbreak is also showing signs of abating in the central region, with Khanh Hoa registering 35 cases, topping the localities in infection numbers.

It was followed by Ninh Thuan with 16 cases, Quang Binh 15, Dak Lak 14, Dak Nong 5, Binh Dinh 5, Quang Ngai 5, Quang Tri 4 and Phu Yen 3.

Ha Nam is the epicenter of the fresh outbreak in the northern region, logging 11 new cases. The city has established two field hospitals to treat patients as the number of new infections is expected to rise in the coming days.

As of 06.00pm on September 28, Vietnam has recorded 770,640 coronavirus cases since the start of the outbreak in January 2020, ranking 44 out of 222 countries and territories across the globe.

It has also confirmed 766,110 cases following the resurgence of the virus five months ago.

Of the total, 554,762 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease, including 21,487 recoveries announced on September 28. 

The past 24 hours saw Vietnam confirm 178 COVID-19 fatalities, with HCM City and Binh Duong reporting 131 and 15 cases, respectively.

The September 28 figure has raised the COVID-19 death toll in Vietnam to 18,936, making up 2.4% of the total number of infections and 0.4% higher than the average death rate globally. 

More than 40 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with nearly 8.5 million people getting full jabs.