The Covid-19 pandemic has passed its peak in HCM City according to Huynh Thi Quynh Mai, chief of office of the Department of Health.
Mai announced the news during a press conference on September 26. Mai said they had set up 22 inspection teams to review the situation in each commune and ward.
Huynh Thi Quynh Mai, chief of office of the HCM City Department of Health speaks at the conference
"The city has passed its Covid-19 peak," Mai said. "Our work has proved effective and the city will develop more preventive plans from now until the end of 2021."
Hospitals in Covid-19-free zones such as the District 7 Hospital or Cu Chi General Hospital have been converted back to serving patients with other illnesses. The city has 3,286 ICU beds and is planning to scale down some field hospitals placed in schools and resettlement areas. Some field hospitals will be upgraded as Covid-19 hospitals.
Pham Duc Hai, vice head of the city Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention said the situation had improved. The number of patients that need ventilators has dropped to 1,918 and the number of discharged patients was 3,495 on September 25.
HCM City is still the biggest epicentre in the country. The city recorded 5,121 new infections on Sunday, raising the total tally to 371,660. The fatality rate has reduced with 131 deaths announced on Sunday.
