COVID-19: Daily count down by over 1,000 to 4,363

The country recorded an additional 4,363 COVID-19 infections across 42 localities nationwide, a drop of 1,022 from the previous day, the Ministry of Health said in its October 5 update.

Ho Chi Minh City continues to represent the country’s currently largest pandemic hotspot, with the highest number of COVID-19 infections at 1,491, trailed by southern Binh Duong 1,107.

Since the start of the pandemic the nation has recorded 818,324 cases, ranking 43 out of 223 countries and territories in terms of infections per one million people.

The latest cases therefore bring the total number of COVID-19 infections since the fourth pandemic wave hit the nation in late April to 813,735.

The same day saw a total of 25,573 patients declared free from SARS-CoV-2 to raise the total number of recoveries to 747,053.

With the deaths of 134 people announced over the past 24 hours, the pandemic’s death toll in the nation has risen to 19,979.

October 5 also saw a further 1,432, 631 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered nationwide. To date, more than 46.9 million vaccine doses have been given to people, including over 35.3 million first shots and more than 11.6 million second jabs.

Meanwhile, the authorities of Ho Chi Minh City are preparing to accelerate the vaccination process for nearly 128,000 local workers at industrial parks so they can return to work once economic activities resume.

Of the figure, nearly 46,000 workers have yet to get their first dose, while nearly 83,000 are now awaiting their second.

The Management Board of Industrial - Export Processing Zones of Ho Chi Minh City (Hepza) will therefore co-ordinate with the southern city’s Department of Health and related agencies to vaccinate all these workers from October 5 to October 15.

The southern metropolis has so far recorded nearly 401,000 infections and more than 15,000 fatalities relating to COVID-19.