Shortly after Vietnam recorded the highest-ever daily coronavirus infections of 444, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh declared that the government will spend all forces on Bac Giang and Bac Ninh Covid-19 hotpots.

More than 400 health workers conduct massive testing in Viet Yen, Bac Giang on May 26. Photo: CDC Bac Giang

Combating the pandemic in the epicenters becomes the government’s top priority to avoid breaking down the supply chain, mostly in industrial parks, Chinh announced Wednesday morning [May 26]. 

To check the fight against Covid-19 in the epicenters, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam made a work trip to the two provinces, asking local authorities to take tougher countermeasures.

Meanwhile, more than 400 health workers conducted rapid antigen tests on a large scale in Viet Yen district, Bac Giang with an aim to quickly detect SARS-CoV-2 in the community. The massive testing of more than 18,000 people was overseen by Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son.

Health professionals of Cho Ray Hospital head toward Bac Giang on May 26. Photo: Cho Ray Hospital

To support Bac Giang, a group of 13 leading health professionals of Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, went there to treat Covid-19 patients, mostly critical cases. Those doctors and nurses have supported the treatment in different parts of Vietnam since the outbreak flared up in the country in early 2020.

As of late May 26, Bac Giang remained top localities for the number of infections with 1,520 cases, followed by Bac Ninh 624. The number of people undergoing both centralized and home quarantine in Bac Giang was nearly 82,000 people and more than 29,000 in Bac Ninh.

On May 26, Bac Giang put into operation a makeship hospital of 600 beds while Bac Ninh built two others capacity 700 beds in total. With the to-be-built ones, Bac Ninh will have five field hospitals.

On the same day, the Ministry of Health reported one more death caused by Covid-19. The 67-year-old woman becomes the 10th death in the fresh outbreak that has lasted for a month, and the 45th death in Vietnam. She died of septic shock, pneumonia, heart failure, diabetes, and fatigue.

Vietnam's cumulative Covid-19 infections. Source: MOH. Chart: Minh Vu