Daily COVID-19 cases hit 9,605, over 15 million vaccine doses administered
VOV.VN - The Ministry of Health confirmed an additional 9,605 cases of COVID-19, including 10 imported infections, over the past 24 hours to 6 p.m. on August 17.
Of 9,595 local cases found in the day, Ho Chi Minh City and its neighour Binh Duong remained the country’s largest pandemic hotspots with 3,559, and 3,332, respectively.
Other local cases were detected in 38 localities, with some southern localities recording hundreds of new infections.
Of the cases recorded, 4,465 were detected within the community, while the remaining infections occurred in quarantine facilities or in areas under lockdown.
Since the start of the pandemic, the nation has documented a total of 293,301 infections, ranking 77th out of 222 countries and territories globally in terms of case numbers. In addition, with the ratio of infections/1 million people, the nation ranks 171st, with there being an average of 2,983 infections for every one million people.
As of the evening of August 17, as many as 2,455 imported and 290,846 domestic cases have been detected nationwide.
As many as 4,331 were declared freed from the virus on the same day, while the death toll climbed to 6,472, with 331 more fatalities recorded across 12 localities.
Since the fourth wave of infections broke out three months ago, the nation has recorded 289,276 domestic cases across 62 cities and provinces.
According to Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the southern city is witnessing a growing numbers of COVID-19 infections within the local community, with previously cases in these areas accounting for 80% of the daily tally.
"Whether the outbreak can be contained depends greatly on strictly keeping distance between people. Once that distance is controlled, it will help cut off the source of infection,” Phong said.
He therefore ordered district authorities to maintain strict vigil to ensure residents stay indoors and only go out for essential purposes.
Regarding vaccination rollout, over 15.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered throughout the nation, with more than 1.4 million people receiving both doses.
