Vietnam records 3,175 new local Covid cases

HCMC led the daily tally with 1,059 cases, followed by Binh Duong (537) and Dong Nai (517).

Infections were recorded in in 48 localities as the country conducted more than 107,000 tests over the past 24 hours.

63 deaths were recorded, with 38 cases in Ho Chi Minh City, 13 in Binh Duong, two each in Dong Nai, Kien Giang, Soc Trang and Dak Lak and one each in Quang Ngai, Bac Lieu, Binh Thuan and Dak Nong.

The total coronavirus death toll so far is 21,194, accounting for around 2.4 percent of all infections.

1,340 Covid-19 patients were announced recovered, bringing the number of recoveries to 791,844.

Of more than 51,000 patients under treatment, 3,413 are severe cases.

The country has administered over 61.9 million Covid vaccine doses, including more than 17.8 million second doses.

As Vietnam has switched from the zero-Covid strategy to living with it, the country has issued a directive on evaluating the pandemic level in each locality that comprises two criteria: the proportion of people aged 18 and more getting vaccinated, and the number of new cases per 100,000 people in a week.

Based on those measurement tools, the government designates infected areas into red, orange, yellow and green, meaning 'very high risk, 'high', 'medium risk', and 'low risk.' Localities can decide to relax restrictions based on their risk levels.

Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Nam Dinh and Quang Ninh in the north, and Binh Thuan in the central region have classified themselves as 'low risk' areas, while Vinh Phuc, Hung Yen, Da Nang, Long An and Binh Phuoc are with medium risks.

HCMC is now a ‘high risk’ area.