COVID-19: Vietnam records more than 5,500 new cases over 24 hours

Vietnam has confirmed 5,598 coronavirus cases in 49 cities and provinces across the country during the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said in its 06.00pm coronavirus update on November 1.

Taking nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing in Vietnam.

It also recorded an additional 1,731 recoveries and 52 fatalities from the disease.

Of the newly detected infections, 2,321 people tested positive in the community through random testing or test screening.

The epicenter of the prolonged outbreak remains in the south, with Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, registering 927 new cases followed by Binh Duong 682, Dong Nai 657, and Kien Giang 469.

Other southern localities that documented high numbers of cases include Bac Lieu 382, An Giang 215, Soc Trang 194, Binh Thuan 167, Tien Giang 163, Tay Ninh 157, Can Tho 149, Ba Ria – Vung Tau 109 and Long An 100.

The outbreak is now evolving in a complicated manner in the north as the virus has recurred in various localities with new infections numbering dozens.

The northern border province of Ha Giang topped localities, recording 98 new cases over the past 24 hours while the midland province of Phu Tho reported 70 cases.

Hanoi capital on November 1 raised its COVID-19 alert level from ‘green’ to ‘orange’ after 57 new cases were diagnosed during the day. Its neighbour, Bac Ninh, which was a former coronavirus hotspot in summer 2021, also uncovered 50 new cases.

As of 06pm on November 1 Vietnam has confirmed 923,451 COVID-19 cases since the start of the first outbreak in January 2020, ranking 40th out of 223 countries and territories worldwide.

Of the total, 822,065 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease.

The MoH also confirmed 52 COVID-19 deaths during the past 24 hours, with HCM City and Binh Duong reporting 25 and 11 fatalities, respectively.

The November 1 figure has raised the COVID-19 death toll in Vietnam to 22,135, making up 2.4% of the total number of infections.

Nearly 82 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 24.6 million people getting their second shot.