Additional 1,612 new COVID-19 cases confirmed on July 17 afternoon

Medical workers collect samples for COVID-19 testing. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – Vietnam confirmed 1,612 new COVID-19 infections, including 12 imported cases, from 6am to 7:30pm on July 17, according to the Ministry of Health.

Among the locally-infected cases, 1,017 were detected in Ho Chi Minh City – the country’s current largest pandemic hotspot, 139 in Dong Thap, 134 in Long An, 78 in Khanh Hoa, 64 in Dong Nai, 33 in Da Nang, 30 in Phu Yen, 23 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 15 in Tra Vinh, 13 each in Hung Yen and Hanoi, five each in Gia Lai, Binh Thuan, An Giang and Ha Nam, four in Dak Nong, three each in Hai Phong, Binh Phuoc and Quang Ngai, two in Bac Ninh and Can Tho, one each in Bac Giang, Lang Son, Ninh Thuan and Vinh Phuc.

Of the cases, 1,279 were detected in quarantine facilities or sealed-off areas.

The country has so far seen 45,884 domestic infections and 2,020 imported ones. The number of infections reported since the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks hit Vietnam late April amounted to 44,314, 7,538 of whom have been given the all-clear. The total recoveries reached 10,312.

Among the active patients, 267 tested negative for the coronavirus once, 116 twice and 118 thrice.

Twelve localities have gone through two weeks without new infections in the community.