A force of more than 132,000 soldiers and militiamen have participated in the fight against Covid-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s epicenter of the pandemic.

Military medics before leaving Hanoi for the pandemic fight in HCMC. Photo: VNA

The force was sent to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) when it imposed the shelter-in-place ruling on August 23, according to Dinh Thanh Phong from the General Political Department, the Vietnam People’s Army.

Among soldiers, more than 2,000 military medics have been mobilized to join the battle in which they specialize in providing first aid, taking care, and treating F0.

Meanwhile, militiamen and soldiers guard the checkpoints, maintain order and anti-pandemic regulations, help people in quarantine facilities, and provide relief to the needy and vulnerable people.

Especially, more than 300 officers and soldiers of the Ho Chi Minh City High Command took part in taking care of the deceased Covid-19 victims. They have received nearly 10,000 bodies, provided cremation, performed worshiping rituals, and handed over the ashes to their families.

According to Phong, the army will gradually withdraw its force from the areas where have basically controlled the outbreak and move to places with complicated pandemic evolution.

HCMC has District 7, Cu Chi, and Can Gio districts that have brought the pandemic under control. Those areas have allowed takeaways, in-person shopping, and some other essential services, unlike other parts of the city.

In the latest move, a first tour will be held to Can Gio, where is reported to have the lowest number of infections among 22 districts in HCMC, on September 19, with the support of about 100 healthcare workers.

The “bubble” tour will be held in outdoor places for visitors who are fully vaccinated and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.

To date, HCMC has remained the most affected locality with more than 331,000 infections and nearly 12,000 deaths, accounting for 48% and 70%, respectively, of the country’s total figures. More than half of the cases have recovered while the active cases are both treated at home and hospitalized.

So far, it has inoculated 91% of people aged above 18 with the first jabs and 25% of its adults fully vaccinated.

Regarding the pandemic situation, today [September 18], Vietnam confirmed 9,373 Covid-19 infections, the first day with four-digit daily cases after two weeks of a five-digit figure per day. It reported 220 deaths, and the average daily death toll over the past week was 250.

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