Vietnam reports over 1,000 local coronavirus infections a day for first time ever

The Ministry of Health recorded a record daily surge of more than 1,000 domestic coronavirus infections in Vietnam on Monday, the majority in concentrated quarantine or isolated areas.

A total of 1,089 local cases were detected in 23 provinces and cities, including 641 in Ho Chi Minh City, 165 in Dong Thap Province, and 131 in Binh Duong Province, the health ministry said in a report.

The vast majority were found in centralized quarantine or locked-down areas, it elaborated.

This is the steepest-ever daily case jump in the country, with the old record of 914 locally-acquired infections reported on July 3.

Vietnam has been grappling with the worst virus wave since April 27, with 17,594 domestically-infected patients having been documented in 55 out of its 63 provinces and cities, according to the health ministry’s data.

Ho Chi Minh City is on top with 6,675 cases, and counting, at a time when the coronavirus has spread quickly to the city’s neighbors and the southern part of the country.

The city is proceeding with its mass screening of the community for infected patients so health workers have recorded a daily increase in the hundreds over the past week.

Local authorities have put enhanced social distancing measures in place for over a month, shutting down non-essential businesses, banning crowded events, and ordering eateries to offer takeout only.

By comparison, Vietnam confirmed 106 community cases in the first wave from January 23 to April 16, 2020, 554 in the second from July 25 to December 1, 2020, and 910 in the third from January 28 to March 25, 2021. 

The Southeast Asian country has confirmed 21,035 cumulative infections since the pathogen first hit it early last year.

Recoveries have added up to 8,022, including 203 announced on Monday, whereas today’s four virus-related fatalities have taken the toll to 90.

The country has administered 3,890,855 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to medical workers, teachers, factory workers, and other frontline staff since it rolled out inoculation on March 8.

A total of 223,336 people have been fully vaccinated.

The government set a target of immunizing two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the end of this year.

It has approved AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sputnik V, Moderna, and Sinopharm vaccines for emergency use as yet.

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