Weekly COVID-19 update: 185 new cases, 11 recoveries

As of late February 7, the national patient tally touched 2,001, including 1,111 locally transmitted cases.

Of the tally, 418 cases have been reported in 12 localities since the third wave of loca transmissions on January 27, namely Hai Duong (309 cases), Quang Ninh (47 cases), Ha Noi (23 cases), Gia Lai (19 cases), HCMC (six cases including four new ones which were confirmed on early February 8), Binh Dong (six cases), Bac Ninh (four cases), Dien Bien (three cases), Hoa Binh (two cases), Hai Phong (one case), Bac Giang (one case), and Ha Giang (one case).

Among the four imported cases, there were two foreign experts who came from South Africa and Russia. The rest were Vietnamese nationals repatriated from Japan on separate "rescue" flights.

Meanwhile, 15 patients were declared free of the virus and exited hospitals, bringing the total recoveries to 1,472.

The number of deaths related to the disease remained at 35.

Out of the current 529 active cases, patient 1538 is the sickest one who is under treatment at the Da Nang Hospital for Lung Diseases as she has suffered from diabetes and hypertension for ten years.

Top health experts have conducted three online consultations to help local doctors in treating the patient. 

As many as 83,104 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entered Viet Nam from pandemic-hit regions are being quarantined nationwide, including 759 in hospitals, 24,098 in state-designated establishments and the remaining 58,247 at their places of residence.

In response to the quick surge of cases, 53 localities quickly closed schools ahead of schedule.          

Fourteen-day quarantine is mandatory to foreign experts, investors, entrepreneurs, management officials and Vietnamese entering Viet Nam from other countries.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) asked airlines to quickly refund or exchange tickets for passengers who cannot fly to their destinations in areas under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) announced that it will import 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the UK in the first half of 2021./.

By Kim Loan