COVID-19: 96 new cases recorded in Vietnam, new outbreak at HCM City hospital

Healthcare workers take samples for COVID-19 testing. (Illustrative image)

Most of the new cases were recorded in quarantine and lockdown areas, thus posing no risk of the community, the MoH said.

Bac Ninh province, which is the country’s second largest coronavirus hotspot, recorded the highest number of local infections, at 34.

It was followed by Bac Giang (32), Ho Chi Minh City (25), Lang Son (2), Phu Tho (1) and Hanoi (1).

Notably, the MoH said 22 out of 25 cases in Ho Chi Minh City are under epidemiological investigations as the source of infection remains unknown.

The HCM City administration moved to lock down its Hospital for Tropical Diseases following detection of several cases linked to an outbreak at a block of apartments.

The HCM City Centre for Diseases Control had confirmed 22 cases at the hospital by late June 12.

HCM City recorded 84 locally transmitted cases on June 12 alone, a record high figure, raising its running tally of infections to 719 and making it the third largest coronavirus hotspot.

The same day, the MoH announced an imported case returning to Vietnam from Japan.

The fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which started in late April has attacked 39 cities and provinces across the country, with 7,134 cases confirmed.

Overall, Vietnam has logged a total of 10,337 cases, both locally transmitted and imported infections, since the SARS – CoV - 2 virus emerged in January 2020.

Fifty-eight COVID-19 deaths have been reported, including 23 cases during the latest outbreak.

More than 3,800 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease.