A medical worker collects samples for COVID-19 testing (Photo: VNA)

More than 3,300 health workers, and students of medical schools are present in the southern metropolis that is now the country’s biggest pandemic hotspot.

The ministry will also establish 24 working groups to support the city in the fight, Long said.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said the city will impose social distancing in line with the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 16 for 15 days, starting July 9.

Accordingly, local residents are asked to stay at home and only go outside for essential trips such as buying food and medicines, or emergency care. Essential good delivery services are allowed.

The ministry reported that additional 314 new COVID-19 cases were added to the national tally from 7:30pm on July 7 to 6:00am on July 8, raising the caseload to 23,385 which include 1,891 imported cases.

Among the new infections, 234 were recorded in HCM City and the remaining in its neighbouring province of Binh Duong. Of the total, 264 were detected in quarantine sites or sealed-off areas.

Vietnam’s COVID-19 infections surpass 23,300

Additional 314 new COVID-19 cases were added to the national tally from 7:30pm on July 7 to 6:00am on July 8, raising the caseload to 23,385 which include 1,891 imported cases.

According to the Health Ministry, among the new infections, 234 were recorded in Ho Chi Minh City and the remaining in its neighbouring province of Binh Duong. Of the total, 264 were detected in quarantine sites or sealed-off areas.

The ministry’s Medical Examination and Treatment Department said 8,557 patients have been given the all-clear, and the national COVID-19 death toll has reached 102.

Among active patients still undergoing treatment, 311 have tested negative to the coronavirus once, 179 twice, and 83 thrice.

There are now 259,428 people whose health is being monitored nationwide, including 2,749 being quarantined at hospitals.

As of 4:00pm on July 7, nearly 4 million vaccine doses had been conducted. A total of 241,913 people have received two sufficient doses.

Source: VNA

HCM City develops response plan to care for up to 500 critically-ill COVID-19 patients

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has developed a response plan for a scenario in which the number of COVID-19 patients reaches 10,000 – 15,000, including 500 severe cases.