As of March 27, the number of people suspected of novel coronavirus infection in Vietnam has increased by 86 against a day earlier to 1,729 - the highest since the pandemic’s outbreak, VnExpress reported.

The data has been compiled by the Vietnam Center for Public Health Emergency Response from the whole country.

A doctor examines a patient's health at Hanoi’s Dong Da Hospital. Photo: Thuy An

People suspected of infection are those who have come into close contact with Covid-19 patients or come from the epidemic regions, showing symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath.

More than 57,000 people across Vietnam having made close contact with Covid-19 patients or come from the epidemic regions are under health supervision.

As of March 27, Hanoi has recorded 52 Covid-19 patients who are under treatment at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases. More than 700 who have made close contact are under medical supervision and nearly 10,000 are under observation in the community.

The Hanoi Department of Health said that the Covid-19 situation in the city is complicated and the influx of people in the country could increase the number of Covid-19 patients.

Ho Chi Minh City has more than 9,000 people under quarantine at concentrated isolation centers and more than 1,000 are isolated at home.

To date, Vietnam has given treatment to 153 Covid-19 patients, twenty of them have been discharged and 37 others have tested negative from once to four times.

Many active cases are Vietnamese nationals and foreigners from Europe and the US. Starting March 22, Vietnam has suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers.

The Covid-19 pandemic has killed more than 24,000 people globally as it spread to 199 countries and territories.