A medical worker takes samples from a woman for Covid-19 testing. Vietnam reported over 3,409 new Covid-19 cases, including 3,397 domestic infections and 12 imported cases, on Friday evening - PHOTO: VNA

HCMC - The Ministry of Health confirmed 3,397 new domestic Covid-19 infections in 30 cities and provinces and 12 imported cases this evening, July 23, sending the country’s total number of new infections in a single day to an all-time high of 7,307.

Southern localities took the lead in terms of new infections this eveninh, with 1,611 cases detected in HCMC, 571 in Binh Duong, 379 in Long An, 184 in Dong Nai, 176 in Tay Ninh, 98 in Dong Thap, 58 in Tien Giang and 58 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Besides, the ministry confirmed 56 cases in Hanoi, 51 in Khanh Hoa, 26 in Quang Ngai, 24 each in Binh Thuan and Can Tho, 18 in Ninh Thuan and 15 in Phu Yen.

Dak Nong, Tra Vinh, Binh Dinh, Binh Phuoc, Hau Giang, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Lam Dong, Ca Mau, Ha Tinh, An Giang, Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Quang Nam and Kon Tum reported less than 10 new cases each.

With the new infections today, HCMC has recorded a total of 50,474 cases in the fourth wave, while Binh Duong has had 5,976, Long An 1,964, and Dong Nai 1,742.

The country has reported a total of 81,678 Covid-19 cases since the pandemic broke out early last year.

Up to now, 15,536 Covid-19 patients have made a full recovery. As many as 2,115 Covid-19 patients were discharged from the hospital today, including 2,046 people in HCMC, according to the city’s Center for Disease Control.

Meanwhile, nearly 200 Covid-19 patients are currently in critical condition, including 166 people under treatment at intensive care units.

The Ministry of Health today received 150,000 boxes of medicines worth VND62.6 billion from British-Swedish pharmaceutical and biotechnology company AstraZeneca to help treat patients with non-communicable diseases amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong said non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes are the top cause of death in Vietnam, accounting for 70% of disease burden in the country.

According to the deputy health minister, Covid-19 patients with non-communicable diseases face a higher risk of death than an average patient. Therefore, effective treatment against non-communicable diseases plays an important role in the Covid-19 fight.

Cuong expected that AstraZeneca will ensure the progress of providing Covid-19 vaccines as well as medicines for non-communicable diseases for Vietnam.