The first case discovered was a guard who visited the Binh Thanh District Hospital to check his other health issues and was tested for the novel coronavirus.

Following his positive test result, the city’s Police Department ordered mass testing among all staff at the prison and later, among several inmates.

By July 5, 44 more staff and 36 prisoners have been confirmed positive, according to the city's Health Department.

On July 3, a 26-year-old inmate, who had been imprisoned for trading narcotic substances, was taken to the April 30 Hospital managed by the Ministry of Public Security.

He died later that day and tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

That inmate lives in HCMC’s District 1 and was taken to the prison on May 12.

On Tuesday night, it appeared that a riot broke out at the prison during a medical checkup, with shots and screams being heard.

HCMC is in the grip of the worst Covid-19 community outbreak ever.

The city is currently the most infected localities of all 55 cities and provinces affected.

It has recorded more than 7,600 cases so far in the fourth wave the broke out in late April.