How was the COVID-19 situation in Ho Chi Minh City last week?

On April 19, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health announced that the number of COVID-19 cases in the city is on the rise. In week 15 of 2023 alone, the city recorded 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of more than 6 times compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks.

Tình hình COVID-19 tại TP HCM trong tuần qua ra sao? - Ảnh 1.

Chart of COVID-19 case progression in the past 14 days in Ho Chi Minh City.

Specifically, the reporting system in March 2023 shows that each day, the city recorded 1-3 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. In the past 14 days (April 3 to April 16), the entire city recorded 39 confirmed cases. Of which, from April 12 to April 16, an average of 7 cases were recorded each day. On April 15 alone, 12 confirmed cases were recorded. The total number of confirmed cases recorded from the beginning of 2023 to present (January 1, 2023 to April 16, 2023) in the city is 181.

Tình hình COVID-19 tại TP HCM trong tuần qua ra sao? - Ảnh 2.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health advised the City People's Committee to reactivate the "Campaign to protect people in risk groups".

Regarding hospitalizations, the Department of Health said that from April 12 to May 16, there were an average of 8-12 hospitalizations per day, while a week earlier there were only about 1-2 cases. "Regarding the severity of the disease, the number of cases requiring oxygen intervention increased from 2 to 13. Of these, 4 cases required high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNC). There are currently no severe cases requiring invasive mechanical ventilation," the Department of Health informed.

According to the Department of Health, since March 2023, through the SARS-CoV2 variant surveillance system of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), in coordination with the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) - Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the XBB.1.5 variant and other Omicron variants such as XBB.1, BA.5, BA.2.75 have been detected.

"XBB.1.5 is currently the dominant variant globally. The introduction and circulation of new variants could increase the number of infections, creating a wave of new cases, especially in areas and populations with reduced community immunity," the Department of Health emphasized.

In the face of the situation of the number of new cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 increasing slightly again, people need to strictly implement measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic according to the 2K message (mask, disinfection) + vaccine. In particular, remember to wear a mask when using public transport, when going to public places, medical facilities, in closed spaces and places required according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health ; regularly disinfect, especially hand hygiene and get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In addition, when participating in social activities, production work, study..., people living in the same house can bring the disease back to infect relatives in the risk group. Therefore, to protect your relatives - who are in the risk group, the disease prevention awareness of relatives and caregivers living in the same house is also very important. When there are suspected symptoms of the disease, go to the nearest medical facility for timely diagnosis and treatment instructions, limiting serious complications and death.

"The whole country will enter a long holiday at the end of April, the increase in travel, communication, and contact will risk increasing the level of COVID-19 infection. The Ho Chi Minh City health sector calls on people not to panic but also not to be negligent, strictly follow the recommendations for COVID-19 prevention and control, and have a sense of responsibility to protect the health of themselves, their families, and the community" - the Department of Health noted.

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