Children receive temperature check when arriving at school in HCM City (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) –
New COVID-19 infections have been on the rise in in recent
days, and Omicron is currently the dominant variant here, according to the city’s
centre for disease control (HCDC).
The southern hub recorded
1,356 new infections and 334 cases of hospitalisation on February 22, both higher than
the previous days, but the numbers of severe cases and deaths are still low.
The HCDC said from February
10 to 17, 70 of the 92 samples sent to the Oxford University Clinical Research
Unit (OUCRU) and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, equivalent to 76 percent,
tested positive for . Gene sequencing results also showed that all the
26 samples randomly selected from those 70 samples were positive to this
variant.
Facing the spread of Omicron,
HCM City is stepping up anti-pandemic measures, including the second phase of
the , scheduled to wrap up at the end of February, during which it has administered the first dose to more than 6,000 people,
the second to over 26,000, and additional and booster to over
85,000.
The HCDC said vaccination is
a critically important measure for enhancing the immunity against Omicron.
The city is also working to promote
the protection of vulnerable groups, including obese children.
Tang Chi Thuong, Director of
the municipal Health Department, said during February 14 – 22, the number of
children infected with tripled from the previous seven days, from
February 7 to 13.
The department is keeping a
close watch on new infections and severe cases needing respiratory support to
advise the municipal People’s Committee about whether or not in-person learning
should be suspended, he said, adding that there are five child patients in need
of respiratory support each day./.
Source: VietnamPlus
