A health worker takes samples for Covid-19 testing in Hai Duong Province
According to the ministry's report, 17 of the newly found patients were all infected in the community and linked with the hotspot Hai Duong province. They included four in Hanoi, three in Quang Ninh, nine in Hai Duong, and one in Binh Duong provinces.
The new virus outbreak has so far spread to eight provinces and cities including Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Hanoi, Gia Lai, Hoa Binh, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City.
19 others are imported Covid-19 patients who are now being treated in Binh Duong, Ba Ria- Vung Tau, Tien Giang, and Khanh Hoa provinces.
With these new infection cases, the number of imported Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 1,817, including 931 locally-transmitted cases with 238 cases reported in just four days since the new outbreak started in Hai Duong on January 27.
As of 6 pm on January 31, a total of 1,457 Covid-19 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital. There have been 35 deaths, most of them being the elderly with serious underlying diseases.
At present, over 23,000 people who had close contact with Covid-19 patients or returned from virus-hit areas are being monitored at hospitals, quarantine facilities, and at home.