Vietnam has recorded no more new coronavirus cases during the past 12 hours, according to the Ministry of Health in its 06.00hrs update on February 12, the first day of the lunar New Year (Tet).

COVID-19 preventive measures have been tightened at gateways to many localities
to prevent the spread of the virus to the wider community.

Earlier the ministry confirmed an additional 31 cases on February 11 afternoon, including 27 cases in Hai Duong province, the country’s biggest coronavirus hotspot.

As many as 383 people have been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Hai Duong since the virus recurred two weeks ago.

The fresh outbreak has spread to 13 cities and provinces across the country, with 553 cases confirmed.

Overall, a total of 2,140 people have been infected with the virus in Vietnam since the first case was recorded in January 2020. Of the total, 1,531 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital.

Among the remaining cases in health facilities, 38 patients have tested negative for the virus at least once.

According to the Ministry of Health, an elderly coronavirus patient in Da Nang city, central Vietnam, who suffers from hypertension and diabetes (type II), is in critical condition as he relies on ECMO, a life support therapy.

During a national consultation on February 11, leading health professionals said the patient’s health is deteriorating similar to the British pilot’s several months ago.

The British patient had grabbed local and global headlines after battling for life against COVID-19 in Vietnam for several months. He recovered from the disease and returned to his hometown last July.