The information was given at a meeting held in Hanoi on Wednesday morning about solutions to mitigate Covid-19 fatalities in Vietnam.
A Covid-19 patient in HCM City
At the event, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said, since the implementation of safe, flexible adaptation to the pandemic, Vietnam has seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections in many localities. To ease the burden on hospitals, localities have allowed Covid-19 patients displaying no or mild symptoms to stay at home for treatment.
Son urged medical facilities to ensure oxygen supply as well as improve their Covid-19 treatment capacity to reduce deaths.
According to Luong Ngoc Khue, Head of the Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, around 85 percent of Covid-19 fatalities were aged 50 and over. Most of them have underlying medical conditions, had not been either partially or fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Meanwhile, the death rate among those aged 18-49 was 15.34 percent and for those aged 0-17 just 0.42 percent.
By December 28, HCM City still topped the country in terms of Covid-19 patients who are being treated with 51,726 cases, followed by Binh Duong with 42,159; Dong Nai with 41,147, Hanoi with 20,165, Ca Mau with 16, 061; Can Tho with 15,157; Khanh Hoa with 12,859; Tra Vinh with 11,922.
Dong Nai now has 3,246 Covid-19 patients who are in critical condition. HCM City has 2,315, Can Tho 420 and Hanoi 315.
HCM City has the highest number of Covid-19 deaths, followed by Binh Duong, Dong Nai, An Giang, Tien Giang, Long An, Tay Ninh, Can Tho, Dong Thap and Kien Giang.