Ho Chi Minh City continues to lead the way in terms of the highest number of community infections, with 1,764 new cases detected on July 12 alone.

The new additions bring the southern metropolis’s tally to 14,776 in the new wave.

A further seven imported cases were recorded in the southern province of Binh Dinh on July 12 afternoon, thereby boosting the overall number of imported infections to 1,940.

The majority of new cases were detected in quarantine sites or in areas currently under lockdown, while others are either F1 contacts of confirmed patients or individuals linked to previous outbreaks and had been under epidemiological investigation.

As of 6 p.m. on July 12, the country recorded 30,259 domestically-infected cases, including more than 28,689 documented since April 27 when the fourth wave of the pandemic initially broke out in the nation.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health also announced the discharge of an additional 56 COVID-19 patients, raising the total number of recoveries to 9,331.

In another move, the Hanoi municipal People's Committee decided to shut all indoor restaurants, cafes, and barbershops, starting from July 13. This comes amid a rising COVID-19 threat in the capital and is taking effect only three weeks after services were permitted to resume. However, takeaway services will still allowed.

Mandatory COVID-19 control measures will be applied on anyone returning to Hanoi from Ho Chi Minh City and other hotspots, including medical declarations and a 14-day self-isolation period. Anyone from these areas who wishes to enter the capital must present papers to prove that they tested negative for the virus a maximum of three days before entry.

Moving forward, the capital is also poised to launch a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The campaign will target all people aged between 18 and 65, with more than 5.1 million doses set to be used.

Once the municipal People’s Committee approves the plan, it will be published on the municipal Health Department’s website next week.

Hanoi has so far recorded 90 positive cases since July 4, including some cases relating to arrivals from Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s current largest COVID-19 hotspot.

The national infection count has now reached more than 30,259 since the virus initially hit the nation early last year, with the virus being reported in 58 out of 63 localities across the country.

Source: VOV