COVID-19: Over 2,000 new cases recorded in Vietnam, tally rises to 55,845

Nearly 1,700 new cases were documented in quarantine or lockdown areas, while the remaining were recorded in epidemic-hit areas or through medical screening at healthcare facilities, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in its 06.00am COVID-19 update on July 19.

Southern Vietnam remains the coronavirus hotspot at present. Ho Chi Minh City, the largest hotspot, led all localities in the number of new cases at 1,535, followed by Binh Duong 215, Dong Nai 73, Vinh Long 41, Ben Tre 30, Soc Trang 19, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, An Giang 8, Dong Thap 6, Tra Vinh 5, and Hau Giang 2.

Alongside HCM City which has gone into social distancing, 18 other southern localities began applying a two-week social distancing order as of 00.00 July 19.     

In an urgent dispatch dated July 18, the Prime Minister decided to establish seven special working groups to assist HCM City with the COVID-19 fight.

The PM directed seven ministries of National Defence, Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, Construction, Information and Communication, and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to establish these taskforce groups under their auspices to timely support COVID-19 prevention in HCM City and other southern localities.

Elsewhere, 21 new cases were detected in Phu Yen, 14 in Quang Ngai, 12 in Hanoi, and several cases in Bac Ninh, Quang Nam, Vinh Phuc, Lao Cai, Thai Binh and Gia Lai.

The MoH also announced an imported case returning to Hanoi from overseas.

As of 06.00am July 19, Vietnam has confirmed 52,215 coronavirus cases following the resurgence of the virus in late April, and 55,845 cases in cumulative tally since the onset of the first outbreak last January 2020.

About 10,667 patients have recovered from the disease, and 254 patients have died ò COVID-19 and other underlying illnesses.

Close to 4.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, with 306,475 people fully receiving two shots.