Vietnam’s coronavirus infections hit 302,101, including 8,800 new cases today.

The total caseload includes 115,059 people recovered and 6,770 deaths. According to the Health Ministry, the death rate is 2.2% of the total cases, equal to the world’s average.

The five most affected areas are Ho Chi Minh City (160,117), Binh Duong (52,346), Long An (16,007), Dong Nai (14,945), and Bac Giang (5,795).

As of August 18, more than 15.52 million vaccine doses have been administered, with 1.48 million people get both shots.

Thus far, five localities with the highest vaccination rate are Ho Chi Minh City with 49.1% of people getting first shot, Hanoi 23.42%, Long An 19.43%, Bac Ninh 18.13%, Binh Duong 17.7%, and Bac Giang 17.65%.

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son (1st right) at the multi-level hospital in HCMC on August 18. Photo: MoH

Ho Chi Minh City

On August 18, the Ministry of Health allowed seven national hospitals to join the direct treatment of Covid-19 patients in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

Accordingly, the hospitals taking care of the treatment include Cho Ray Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Viet Duc Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, Hue Central Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and Thong Nhat Hospital.

Notably, directors of leading national hospitals like Cho Ray, Bach Mai, Viet Duc, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Hue Central Hospital, and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy direct the emergency and resuscitation in HCMC and Binh Duong.

According to the ministry, it sent more than 13,000 health workers to support southern localities in the ongoing pandemic. Of the total, 11,400 came to HCMC.

On the same day, the city opened a multi-level hospital to treat all kinds of Covid-19 patients. The 1,000-bed makeshift hospital is located in Thong Nhat Hospital in Tan Binh District.

The operation of the first of its kind is aimed to avoid transferring patients when they get worse.

“The hospital will facilitate people in the area, offering them opportunities to access the fastest medical services and receive the most effective treatment,” according to Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son.

A mobile testing lab in Hanoi. The photo was taken on August 18 by Khanh Huy/ The Hanoi Times

Hanoi

Today, the capital city launched the massive testing on 13 high-risk groups namely shippers; traders in wet markets; supermarket workers; groceries sellers; petroleum sellers; drivers working in industrial parks and long-distance drivers; safeguards in apartment blocs, industrial parks, and agencies; construction workers; pharmacists; retailers; workers in Covid-19 checkpoint; and hygiene workers.

The city is expected to conduct 800,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in three days, Director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control and Prevention Truong Quang Viet said, adding that more than 20 hospitals will join the testing.

This is the second time of the city’s target to conduct 1.3 million PCR tests starting from July 10 with an aim to stamp out the pandemic by August 25. The testing will be carried out in the high-risk districts of Dong Da, Hoang Mai, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Anh, Thuong Tin, and Thanh Tri.

In another move, leading hospitals are training nearly 1,000 health workers to help them run a 700-bed makeshift hospital, which is scheduled to come operational at the end of August.

Vietnam's coronavirus cases. Source: MoH. Chart: Minh Vu