COVID-19: 8,176 new cases detected, Hanoi shortens time between two AstraZeneca shots

A total of 8,176 fresh COVID-19 cases were confirmed on November 14 with 3,705 found in the community, bringing the nationwide tally since the start of the pandemic to 1,062,522, according the Health Ministry.

The number of infections dropped by 288 cases compared to the figure on the previous day.

HCM City led the daily tally with 985 cases, followed by An Giang province with 695 and Dong Nai province with 674.

Hanoi recorded 88 cases, with half of them in the community and the remainders found in lockdown areas.

A further 5,257 recoveries were reported on November 14, taking the total number of patients given the all-clear to 863,311.

The COVID-19 death toll nationwide also rose to 23,082 with the confirmation of 64 deaths over the past 24 hours.

Compared to the world, the nation’s fatality count ranks 34th out of 223 countries and territories, while the number of deaths per one million people is 133rd out of 223 countries and territories. Compared to the rest of Asia, the nation’s death toll ranks 10th out of 49 countries and territories.

By November 13, the nation had inoculated more than 98.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with more than 34.6 million people now fully vaccinated with two doses.

In another move, the Hanoi Department of Health has agreed to reduce the waiting time between two AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shots to four weeks from eight as previously regulated.

The decision is designed to fast-track the vaccination process in a safe and effective manner, thus creating herd immunity as swiftly as possible.

According to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control, the move is based on guidance from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology about the Covid-19 vaccination campaign. With AstraZeneca, the institute recommends taking the second injection at least four weeks after the first one.

AstraZeneca is the first COVID-19 vaccine licensed for use in the country, with some localities allowed to shorten the injection time between two AstraZeneca doses while complying with recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the manufacturer.