COVID-19: Daily caseload rises again to over 4,000 in 47 localities

Vietnam has recorded 4,045 coronavirus cases in 47 cities and provinces across the country over the past 24 hours, an increase of 672 cases compared to the previous day, the Ministry of Health said in its coronavirus update on October 24.

As many as 1,599 cases were recorded in the community through random testing or test screening, while 17 people tested positive upon returning from overseas.

Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, topped localities and cities in infection numbers, registering 966.

It was followed by Binh Duong with 524 new cases, Dong Nai 429, An Giang 297, Soc Trang 296, Bac Lieu 155, Tay Ninh 132 and Tra Vinh 113, all in the south

Dak Lak, a province in the Central Highlands suddenly recorded 193 locally acquired cases mostly in crowded markets and ethnic inhabited areas over 24 hours. Expert fear the outbreak remains complicated as the vaccination rate is rather low.

Similarly, the northern border province of Ha Giang detected 68 new cases, topping localities in the northern region.

In the capital of Hanoi, seven officials in Thanh Oai district were diagnosed with the virus in the afternoon, raising its 24-hour count to 16.

As of 06pm on October 24 Vietnam has confirmed 888,940 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, 805,978 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease, including 1,314 recoveries announced on October 24.

The MoH also confirmed 53 COVID-19 deaths during the past 24 hours, with HCM City and Binh Duong reporting 30 and 12 fatalities, respectively.

The October 24 figure has raised the COVID-19 death toll in Vietnam to 21,673, making up 2.5% of the total number of infections.

About 73 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 21 million people getting their second shot.