Medical staff take samples of a resident in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Bac Lieu Province reported 414 new COVID-19 cases on October 31, a record high figure it had experienced since the recurrence of the virus in late April. Of the daily caseload, 143 cases were found in the community though test screening.

To halt the spread of the virus, the provincial administration required people travelling from other localities to bac Lieu to make a full medical declaration and take responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided.

Those entering Bac Lieu from ‘amber’ and red’ zones were required to show a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to their initial arrival and self-quarantine at home for seven to 14 days depending on their vaccination status.

In Tien Giang Province, the past 24 hours saw 223 people test positive for the virus, increasing by 148 cases compared to the previous day and raising its tally of infections to 16,422.

Among the 51 newly detected community cases, 19 were workers from Duc Thanh Phat Company Limited which specialises in processing and preserving aquatic products in My Tho City.

Similarly, 342 COVID-19 cases were also reported in An Giang Province, with community cases mainly recorded in Long Xuyen City and the districts of Tri Ton and Cho Moi.

Long Xuyen city immediately suspended dine-in services and strictly managed people returning from high-risk neighbouring localities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An.

Can Tho City and Soc Trang province have also detected a high number of COVID-19 cases over the past seven days.

A 600-bed field hospital in Soc Trang is set to be put into operation on November 2, while another one is being built in order to receive and treat patients.

COVID-19 cases are increasing considerably in numbers in Mekong Delta provinces since early October when thousands of people have started to flock to their hometowns from COVID-19 hotspots such as Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong. Local authorities are taking drastic measures to nip in the bud a possible fifth outbreak of COVID-19.

Source: VOV

Vaccines for the Mekong Delta

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