Arrow Single-day infections climb to 10,280 as nearly 7,000 recover from COVID-19

A further 10,280 people were detected to be positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus over the past 24 hours to 6 p.m. on August 23, including 10,266 domestic infections and 14 imported cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

The five localities recording the highest number of infections were HCM City (4,251), Binh Duong (3,183), Dong Nai (623), Tien Giang (459), and Long An (388).

Elsewhere, other local cases were detected among the country’s remaining 35 pandemic-hit localities, including some southern localities which reported hundreds of new infections.

Of the latest cases documented nationwide on August 23, a total of 6,021 were detected within the community, while the remaining infections were found in quarantine facilities or in locked-down areas.

The nation has registered a total of 358,456 infections since the pandemic initially hit the country early last year, with 2,531 imported and 355,925 domestic infections being logged to date.

Furthermore, the number of recoveries increased to 154,612 after 6,945 patients were announced to be free from the virus,

The Treatment Subcommittee under the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control the same day confirmed an additional 389 COVID-19 fatalities in 9 localities, raising the death toll regarding the disease to 8,666.

The overall number of positive COVID-19 cases nationwide during the latest wave since late April stands at 354,355, ranking 66th among 222 countries and territories globally. On average, there are 3,646 COVID-19 cases for every one million people.

The country has now vaccinated over 17.3 million people, with over 1.8 million being fully vaccinated with two jabs.

Amid persistent COVID-19 threats, Ho Chi Minh City, the current epicentre of the fourth wave of infections, started to tighten its restrictions starting from August 23, with local people required to "stay where they are" in an effort to carry out the goal of bringing the pandemic under control before September 15.

Moving forward, special working groups are set up at wards or places identified as high-risk and extremely high-risk zones. These groups inspect and call on people to fully comply with social distancing measures and maintain pandemic- free green zones.

The movement of residents will continue to be brought under control, while employees of state agencies are being encouraged to work at home.

The southern metropolis has so far recorded more than 180,000 local cases and nearly 6,000 deaths during the latest pandemic wave.