Vietnam confirms 321 new local Covid-19 cases

By Le Nga July 7, 2021 | 05:09 am PT

A medical staff takes samples from a man to test for the novel coronavirus in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City on July 6, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Health authorities Wednesday evening confirmed 321 new local Covid-19 cases, most of them in the epicenter HCMC, which recorded a new daily high.

Among the new cases, 149 were in HCMC, followed by Binh Duong (60), Khanh Hoa (41), Vinh Long (24), Tien Giang (18), Phu Yen (eight), Vinh Phuc (five), Hung Yen (five), Dong Thap (five), Hanoi (three), Bac Giang (two) and Thanh Hoa (one).

This brings the total number of local cases confirmed Wednesday to 997. Authorities are tracing contact history of 29 of them, while the rest are in isolated areas.

HCMC recorded 766 new cases Wednesday, its highest daily number since the pandemic broke out. The city will begin a 15-day social distancing campaign starting Friday.

Vietnam has recorded 19,559 local cases in the latest Covid-19 wave which began April 27. HCMC leads with 8,151 cases, followed by Bac Giang Province (5,678), and Bac Ninh Province (1,628).

The national tally since last year is now at 23,071. 480 people discharged Wednesday, bringing the total number of recoveries to date to 8,557.

Five deaths were recorded Wednesday, bringing the national fatality tally to 102.

14 localities have gone 14 days without new cases, while eight have gone done so for 30 days.