Two more people died of Covid-19 in Vietnam while 71 others were on the critical list, the Ministry of Health said Friday [May 21].

Authorities in Viet Yen district, Bac Giang help local residents in lockdown areas. Photo: Baobacgiang

The latest deaths include a 70-year-old woman with some underlying diseases like diabetes and hypertension and an 89-year-old woman suffering heart failure, hypertension, and chronic gastritis.

So far, Vietnam has reported 41 coronavirus deaths, including six in the ongoing outbreak.

According to the ministry, as many as 71 Covid-19 patients are in critical condition, including 21 terminally ill and three receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

The ministry said the number of critically-ill patients is higher than in the previous outbreaks due to Indian variant.

Covid-19 infections in Vietnam. Source: MOH. Chart. Minh Vu

On May 21, a remote national consultation was held to find the best treatment for critical patients, the fourth telehealth organized in a week.

On the same day, Vietnam confirmed 131 infections, including 99 in Bac Giang – the locality houses Apple’s major assembler Foxconn. So far, Bac Giang makes up a third of the national cases counted in the fourth wave that broke out in late April.

The newest cases drive the country’s total caseload to 4,920, including nearly 1,900 infected in the fourth wave.