A total 5,298 COVID-19 patients were given the all clear on the day, bringing the number of recoveries so far to 10,040,338. There are 226 patients in serious conditions needing breathing support.
Three deaths from COVID-19 were recorded in the past 24 hours, lilting the total number of fatalities to 43,103.
On the day, 417,395 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered, raising the total number of shots given out to 252,097,399.
Four more vaccines to be included in Expanded Immunisation Programme
Vietnam will use four more vaccines in the Expanded Immunisation Programme for the 2021-2030 period under Resolution No.104 of the Government on the roadmap to increase the diversity of vaccines in the programme signed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on August 15.
The four are against Rotavirus from 2022, pneumococcal disease from 2025, cervical cancer from 2026, and seasonal flu from 2030.
The resolution clearly states the scope and number of beneficiaries as proposed by the Ministry of Health. In the case of mobilising domestic aid and support, or supplementing with the state budget, the ministry may decide whether this roadmap can be implemented sooner.
HCM City ready to reactivate COVID-19 treatment hospitals
The Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City has recently requested its medical facilities to get plans readied for the acceptance and treatment of COVID-19 patients in the context of increases in the number of new cases.
The department assigned the Hospital for Tropical Diseases to be responsible for preparing human resources to reactivate the COVID-19 treatment hospital for severe cases when required.
In addition, it requested all hospitals, health centres and medical facilities in the city to actively review their resources to be ready to respond when the COVID-19 pandemic worsens.
The city's Centre for Disease Control was assigned to strengthen case surveillance through the Infectious Disease Surveillance System connected to the COVID-19 Digital Management Platform, with the focus on fluctuations in the number of new cases, and the status of vaccination for vulnerable people.
Health Ministry demands prudence as COVID-19 cases rise
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has warned of a spike in the number of new COVID-19 infections as well as critical cases.
Over the past week, Vietnam has recorded an average of 2,000 new COVID-19 cases each day. More than 100 seriously ill COVID-19 patients are being treated at hospitals.
The increase will cause overload for the health system, particularly in the context of the outbreak of other diseases such as dengue fever, influenza A and hand-foot-mouth, according to the ministry.
Also, there is a high risk for newly emerging infectious diseases such as monkeypox and chronic liver problems to enter Vietnam.
As the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron have appeared in many southern localities while the new academic year will start soon, the ministry is urging localities to continue to speed up vaccination, particularly booster doses for the adult population and the second dose for children between five and under 12 years old.
Vietnam detects highly-infectious BA.2.74 Omicron sub-variant
Vietnam has detected a number of new, highly-contagious Omicron sub-variants, including BA.2.74, said the General Department of Preventive Medicine on August 17.
The department also corrected its August 15 report which mistakenly mentioned BA.2.75 among sub-variants circulating in Vietnam. It is BA.2.74, not BA.2.74, it said in the latest statement, adding that the first case of BA.2.74 was reported in the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital on August 8.
Other Omicron sub-variants found in the country are BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.12.1, according to the department.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has warned of a spike in the number of new COVID-19 infections as well as critical cases. Over the past week, Vietnam has recorded an average of 2,000 new COVID-19 cases each day. More than 100 seriously ill COVID-19 patients are being treated at hospitals.
The General Department of Preventive Medicine has asked local health authorities to update the number of new COVID-19 cases on a daily basis, so health authorities can have sufficient data to accurately assess the pandemic situation.
Compiled by T.Huong
Source: Vitic/VNA