Omicron cases rise to 192 in Vietnam

The number of people infected with the Omicron variant in Vietnam had increased to 192 by February 3, an increase of six cases compared to the previous day, according to the Ministry of Health.

Vietnam has so far recorded 192 Omicron cases nationwide. (File photo: Reuters)

The new variant had spread to 16 cities and provinces in all three regions of the country, with Ho Chi Minh City in the south topping localities in infection numbers, at 92.

Quang Nam province in the central region came second with 27 cases, followed by Quang Ninh province in the north registering 20 cases.

Other localities confirming the emergence of the Omicron variant were Hanoi (20), Khanh Hoa (11), Da Nang (8), Hung Yen (6), Kien Giang (4), Thanh Hoa (2), Hai Duong (2).

Hai Phong, Long An, Ba Ria - Vung Tau,, Binh Duong, Lam Dong, and Ninh Binh all recorded one each case.

Vietnam recorded an additional 8,601 new coronavirus infections on February 3, raising its tally of infections to more than 2.3 million.

According to the Ministry of Health, the numbers of new infections and deaths all dropped nationwide during the lunar New Year break.

Official data from the MoH show that Vietnam confirmed about 12,200 cases of COVID-19 and 100 deaths daily between February 29 and February 2 compared to about 15,300 new infections and 140 deaths per day recorded in the previous week.

The numbers of hospitalisations and severe/critical cases also decreased by 15.1% and by 22.4% respectively.

MoH Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the gradual reopening of activities could pose a potential risk of an increase in the number of infections after the lunar New Year break, including the transmission of the Omicron variant.

He warned unless COVID-19 prevention and control measures are strictly observed in the community, the number of infections is likely to increase excessively after the nine-day holiday that will eventually overload the health system and lead to unwanted deaths.