On August 28, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Nguyen Van Vinh Chau said that recently the number of Covid-19 cases in the city has tended to increase.

Corresponding to the increase in the number of new cases, the number of hospitalizations and severe cases also tends to increase, with an average of 64 severe cases per day (last month it fluctuated from a few cases to about 30 cases).

In recent weeks, the BA.5 strain appeared and began to increase rapidly, then occupied a dominant proportion in the city.

Doctors treat and care for people with severe Covid-19 in Ho Chi Minh City.

In the context of increasing numbers of infected and severe cases, Ho Chi Minh City is making efforts to promote Covid-19 vaccination, especially in children.

From August 23, the health sector organized a mobile vaccination vehicle model to vaccinate students at schools, with schools that did not have fixed vaccination sites and small numbers.

In addition, the Ministry of Health also recommends that everyone get vaccinated to have immunity to prevent disease, including two basic shots of the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna vaccines and additional and booster shots depending on the target group.

Health sector leaders say that epidemics are still a threat, because the number of new dengue cases tends to decrease but is still at a high level.

To proactively respond when the epidemic situation worsens, from mid-August, Ho Chi Minh City plans to reactivate the 3-story Field Hospital No. 13 when needed.

The Department of Health requires all hospitals, medical centers and medical examination and treatment facilities to review human resources, equipment, medical supplies, personal protective equipment… Enhanced facilities

In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control increased case monitoring, noted fluctuations in new case data, and promptly forecast the epidemic situation.

On August 27, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the world reached a `tragic milestone`, recording one million deaths due to Covid-19 from the beginning of 2022 until now, in the context of the Omicron mutation spreading.