The Ministry of Health confirmed 10,489 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the national patient tally to 656,129.

The number of daily new COVID-19 cases from September 1-16

The latest patients include seven imported cases and 10,482 domestic infections in Ho Chi Minh City (5,735), Binh Duong (2,998), Dong Nai (567), Long An (281), Kien Giang (198), An Giang (126), Tien Giang (81), Can Tho (60), Tay Ninh (58), Quang Binh (43), Khanh Hoa (37), Dong Thap (33), Binh Phuoc (30), Ba Ria – Vung Tau (29), Binh Thuan (29), Dak Lak (26), Binh Dinh (22), Ha Noi (15), Quang Ngai (14), Ninh Thuan (12), Hau Giang (10), Ca Mau (9), Phu Yen (9), Dak Nong (8 ), Ben Tre (7), Soc Trang (7), Bac Lieu (7), Quang Nam (6), Thanh Hoa (6), Tra Vinh (5), Nghe An (4), Thua Thien-Hue (3), Gia Lai (2), Da Nang (2), Bac Ninh (1), Hung Yen (1), and Lam Dong (1). Of the domestic cases, 6,537 were detected in the community.

The national caseload includes 651,726 locally transmitted cases recorded in 62 cities and provinces since April 27 when the fourth COVID-19 wave began.

Fourteen out of the above localties have gone 14 days without new local infection: Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Thai Nguyen, Dien Bien, Vinh Phuc, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Phu Tho, and Ninh Binh.

Five localities hit hardest by the current wave are: Ho Chi  Minh City (320,823), Binh Duong (169,073), Dong Nai (37,736), Long An (29,570), and Tien (12,642).

The same day, the ministry reported 10,901 new recoveries, taking the total number of recovered cases to 423,551. Among the current positive cases, 5,750 are in critical conditions.

The ministry also announced further 239 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 16,425, representing 2.5 percent of the national tally./.