Daily COVID-19 spike hits record high of nearly 3,000 as cases soar in HCM City

• HCM City pilots home quarantine for asymptomatic F0 cases
• July 14 morning sees 909 new cases recorded in 16 localities
• National tally crosses 30,000 following detection of 622 more new cases
• COVID-19: 598 new cases recorded, 520 cases in HCM City alone

Ho Chi Minh City stills accounts for the largest number of local cases, with 2,229 detected on July 14 alone, and more than 18,800 infections during the latest COVID-19 wave.

July 14 also saw the nation register a further 10 imported cases, thereby raising the total number of imported infections to 1,955.

The majority of new cases were detected in quarantine sites or in areas currently in lockdown, while others involve either F1 contacts of confirmed patients or individuals linked to previous outbreaks who are under epidemiological investigation.

As of 6 p.m. on July 14, the country has recorded 35,479 domestically-infected cases, including more than 33,900 documented since the resurgence of the virus which hit the nation more than two and a half months ago.

The total number recoveries also rose to 9,624 after an additional 71 COVID-19 patients were released from hospital after going on to make a full recovery from the virus.

As many as 135 people have died of COVID-19 and underlying health issues since the pandemic first emerged in the country last year, with the majority of cases being reported in southern localities in recent times.

Elsewhere, the Ministry of Health has also issued a decision regarding the allocation of more than two million doses of the Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine by Moderna to 53 cities and provinces nationwide, as well as military, public security forces, and 20 hospitals run by the Ministry.

The move will see 28 northern localities will receive 870,240 doses of the vaccine, with Hanoi getting the largest number with 120,960 doses.

The Ministry has also asked relevant agencies to develop vaccination plans, with the Moderna vaccine needing to be stored at a temperature between two and eight degrees Celsius and used within 31 days.

They also requested that close co-ordination occurs with the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation and the programme in their region to devise plans to receive the vaccine and implement fast vaccination to make full use of the available doses.

The delivery of over two million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is being provided by the United States through the Covax Facility.