Vietnam's domestic Covid case count rises by 1,438

The southern metropolis registered 1,071 cases, including 940 in quarantine zones and blockaded areas. Another 131 cases are being contact traced.

Among other southern localities, Dong Nai Province that borders HCMC recorded 72 cases, with 39 having had contact with Covid-19 patients, 22 linked to a cluster at Hoa An market in Bien Hoa Town, and the source of transmission of the remaining 11 is yet to be identified.

Mekong Delta's Dong Thap Province reported 66 cases, 57 of whom had come into contact with Covid-19 patients and the source of transmission of the other nine cases is still unclear.

Binh Duong Province that borders HCMC reported 53 cases, with 45 people having direct contact with Covid-19 patients, three returning from HCMC and five having unclear transmission sources.

Vinh Long Province in the Mekong Delta registered 36 cases, including 32 linked to a company in Long Ho District and one returning from HCMC. Three other cases are being contact traced.

Ben Tre Province in the delta detected 15 cases, with 13 linked to existing cases and two having visited HCMC.

Binh Phuoc Province recorded 10 cases that are all related to confirmed patients.

Kien Giang Province in the delta reported eight cases, with four having contact with Covid-19 patients, one returning from Khanh Hoa Province, and three with unknown infection sources.

Can Tho, the delta's capital, got eight cases, with six linked to previously confirmed cases, one returning from HCMC and one being contact traced.

Its neighbor Hau Giang Province recorded seven cases, with three linked to confirmed patients and four having visited HCMC.

In the central region, Khanh Hoa Province got 57 cases and Nghe An Province three, and all are associated with previously confirmed patients.

The case in Central Highlands province of Dak Nong is a 30-year-old man from southern An Giang Province. He had visited various localities before being found positive for the new coronavirus in Dak Nong.

The case in Central Highlands Lam Dong Province visited HCMC prior to the positive test result.

In northern Vietnam, Hanoi got six cases, all related to existing cases.

The case in Lang Son Province is a 55-year-old man who had visited HCMC.

Since the fourth wave, which is the most challenging that Vietnam has encountered, broke out in late April, the country has recorded 38,675 cases in 58 of its 63 cities and provinces.

HCMC is leading the case count with 22,564 infections, and the Health Ministry said Thursday that the city should expect higher tally in coming days.

Vietnam has vaccinated more than 4.18 million against Covid-19 and 294,676 have got two doses.