Binh Duong expects 120,000 coronavirus cases in next two weeks

Vo Van Minh, chairman of Binh Duong People's Committee, on Tuesday said the number of new Covid-19 cases may rise by another 50,000 over the next two weeks as Covid-19 testing is ramped up, totaling to around 120,000 cases.

"The province has already prepared enough infrastructure and equipment to treat symptomatic Covid-19 cases. But we still need help from the Ministry of Health to support our doctors and nurses," he said at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam regarding the Covid-19 fight.

Besides personnel support, Binh Duong also hopes the ministry could provide it with Covid-19 treatment and other kinds of medications, as well as supporting it with vaccination efforts to cover around two million people living in high-risk areas, he added.

Dam said widespread testing means more cases in future, which would cause a shortage of health workers treating Covid-19 patients. Therefore, the health ministry needs to send reinforcements to Binh Duong, even enlisting retired health workers and recovered Covid-19 patients.

Binh Duong, an industrial hub bordering Ho Chi Minh City, has recorded 77,053 local Covid-19 cases since the fourth coronavirus wave hit Vietnam in late April. It has the second highest number of coronavirus cases among all localities in Vietnam, behind only HCMC with 184,872 cases.