COVID-19 caseload hits new record high with 14,224 more cases detected

Vietnam has detected 14,224 new coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours, a record high figure, raising the national tally of infections to nearly 450,000, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in its 06.00pm coronavirus update.

As many as 7,504 cases were documented in the community through random testing or test screening. Five people tested positive upon arriving from overseas, while the rest were diagnosed in lockdown or quarantine areas.

Binh Duong, an industrial complex hub and a gateway to Ho Chi Minh City, led all cities and provinces in infection number, registering 6,050. HCM City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, confirmed 5,889 new cases.

Other southern localities that recorded large numbers of new infections include Long An with 524 cases, Dong Nai 491, Tien Giang 221, An Giang 90 and Kien Giang 73.

Khanh Hoa topped central localities, logging 126 cases, followed by Nghe An 68, Da Nang 54 and Thua Thien-Hue 40.

In the northern region, Hanoi capital uncovered 110 new cases, mostly in quarantine and lockdown areas. Elsewhere two cases each were reported in Son La, Hung Yen and Bac Ninh provinces.

Data from the MoH shows that the past 24 hours saw Vietnam record 1,467 more cases than the previous day, mainly in HCM City and Binh Duong.

Vietnam has confirmed 449,489 coronavirus cases since the start of the outbreak in January 2020, ranking 59th among 222 countries and territories in terms of the infection number.

Since the resurgence of the virus on April 27, 2021, as many as 445,291 people have tested positive, half of whom have fully recovered from the disease.

The MoH also announced on August 30 Vietnam has registered 315 deaths during the past 24 hours, raising the total number of COVID-19 fatalities to 11,064.

More than 19.7 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 2.5 million people getting their second shot.