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On December 2, Hanoi's Chairman Chu Ngoc Anh issued Directive No. 26/CĐ-UBND, emphasizing adaptive and effective measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the new context. Implementing Resolution 128/NQ-CP of the Government, the city recorded 6,568 COVID-19 cases between October 11 and December 1. In the past six days, the daily average was 291 cases, with 38% originating from the community. While severe cases in tier 3 account for less than 0.8%, the rapid rise in infections poses significant challenges. The Hanoi Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications, has rolled out software to manage F0 cases across medical facilities and home treatment locations. Every ward and commune is required to prepare 150 beds to handle admissions, isolation, and treatment of COVID-19 patients.

From November 27 to December 2, COVID-19 cases in Tra Vinh continued to rise sharply, averaging around 300 new cases daily. By 5 PM on December 2, the province had recorded 8,507 positive cases of SARS-CoV-2, with 3,348 recoveries and 47 deaths. Seven field hospitals and three COVID-19 treatment facilities with a total capacity of 1,320 beds were overwhelmed. In response, the Tra Vinh Provincial People's Committee decided to establish 11 additional treatment facilities for mild or asymptomatic patients in districts such as Cau Ke, Tra Cu, Chau Thanh, and Cau Ngang. To alleviate the pressure on field hospitals, since November 14, local health centers have collaborated with community COVID-19 treatment teams to provide care for over 1,800 F0 cases at home.

On December 2, Can Tho's Department of Health reported the discovery of 1,199 new COVID-19 cases, with 10 patients passing away. As of now, the city has recorded 28,470 F0 cases and 213 deaths. On this day, 394 patients recovered from COVID-19. Presently, 11,329 F0 cases are self-isolating and receiving treatment at home.

The Department of Health has also sent a request to the Ministry of Health for Remdesivir 100mg to assist in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

According to a report from Can Tho's People's Committee, the city has set up 62 mobile healthcare teams comprising doctors, nurses, and students from Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. These teams have been assigned to specific areas to support the management, isolation, and treatment of F0 and F1 cases at home.

Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan announced that the Ministry of Health will ensure a responsible and effective use of the 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses donated by the Argentine Government to assist in the COVID-19 prevention efforts.

On December 2, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan, on behalf of the Ministry of Health's leadership, formally received the vaccine doses, which were gifted by Argentina’s government to the Vietnamese government as part of the battle against COVID-19.

At the vaccine handover ceremony, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan expressed deep gratitude to the government and people of Argentina, highlighting that nearly 50 years have passed since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973, and their cooperative ties continue to flourish.

Both parties agreed at the ceremony to strengthen cooperation, improve healthcare infrastructure, and fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the 86 students in Hoang Hoa who were hospitalized due to reactions after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, other districts in Thanh Hoa province have also reported similar cases.

According to the CDC of Thanh Hoa, by 11 AM on December 2, a total of 56,766 out of 117,000 vaccine doses for children had been administered across 27 districts and cities. Among these, 17 cases experienced severe reactions, including 5 in Vinh Loc, 3 in Hau Loc, 3 in Nghi Son, 2 in Ha Trung, 2 in Bim Son, 1 in Thach Thanh, and 1 in Cam Thuy.

The director of Ha Trung District General Hospital, Mr. Vu Van Chinh, reported that on December 1, the district conducted its first round of vaccinations for approximately 1,500 students at Ha Trung High School.

Following the vaccinations, 22 students (mostly female) began to show symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness. They were immediately transferred to Ha Trung General Hospital for observation and treatment.

Currently, the condition of the 17 students has stabilized, and they are continuing to be monitored at the hospital.

On the afternoon of December 1, in Hanoi, as part of the "Together with Tien Phong to Support the Frontline Against COVID-19" program, the Central Party's Department of Emulation and Rewards donated 8 electric syringe pumps to the 16th Field Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

From Ho Chi Minh City, the director of the 16th Field Hospital, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Hai, emotionally shared: "This gift from the Emulation Block is invaluable in terms of morale and provides a tremendous source of encouragement, especially as resources are scarce after the fourth wave of the pandemic. Our medical staff will continue to work hard to fulfill all our duties and join the nation in combating COVID-19."

On December 1, the Kon Tum Department of Health issued an urgent notice to locate an F0 patient who escaped from the Field Hospital No. 1 in Kon Tum City.

The patient, identified as Le Van B. (born in 1986, from Nham Son - Tien Dung, Bac Giang province), had been admitted for treatment since November 24, 2021.

At approximately 12:55 AM on the same day, B. climbed over a fence and fled the hospital. When escaping, B. wore a long-sleeve gray and white shirt, black shorts, carried a white bag, and had a slight limp from self-inflicted injury to his right thigh.

Authorities have asked the public to immediately report any sightings of B. to local authorities or Field Hospital No. 1 in Kon Tum to prevent further risk of community transmission.

On December 1, the Hanoi Department of Health reported an additional 469 cases of COVID-19 in the city, 202 of which were community-acquired.

These cases were spread across 160 districts, wards, and communes in 26 out of 30 districts. The breakdown is as follows: Dong Da (53 cases), Bac Tu Liem (45 cases), Hai Ba Trung (42 cases), Nam Tu Liem (41 cases), Ba Dinh (29 cases), Me Linh (26 cases), Ha Dong (26 cases), Long Bien (25 cases), My Duc (21 cases), Dan Phuong (21 cases), Thanh Tri (20 cases), Dong Anh (17 cases), Chuong My (17 cases), Hoang Mai (15 cases), Thanh Oai (14 cases), Tay Ho (10 cases), Quoc Oai (9 cases), Cau Giay (7 cases), Gia Lam (7 cases), Hoan Kiem (6 cases), Phu Xuyen (5 cases), Hoai Duc (4 cases), Thanh Xuan (3 cases), Son Tay (3 cases), Phuc Tho (2 cases), and Thuong Tin (1 case).

On the afternoon of November 30, 2021, Dr. Nay Phi La, Director of Dak Lak Department of Health, confirmed the death of an individual after receiving the second dose of the Vero Cell vaccine.

The deceased, H.N.B. (41 years old, residing in Kram, Dak Liêng, Lak District), received her second dose of the Vero Cell vaccine at the Le Ngoc Han Primary School vaccination site (Tan Lap, Buon Ma Thuot) around 3:00 PM on November 29.

Prior to the vaccination, H.N.B. was screened by medical staff with no unusual signs. After the vaccination, she showed no adverse reactions within 30 minutes and was allowed to leave. She was instructed to continue monitoring her health at home as per regulations.

After returning home, she went about her usual activities. However, around 1:00 AM on November 30, her companions noticed that she was unconscious and not breathing. She was rushed to the Central Highlands General Hospital in a state of unconsciousness, with no pulse, and her blood pressure could not be measured.

H.N.B.'s body has been handed over to her family for burial. The cause of death is still under investigation.

On November 30, 2021, Trần Thị Nhị Hà, Director of Hanoi's Department of Health, announced that the city is ready to implement home treatment for F0 (COVID-19 positive) cases. However, the implementation of this plan is dependent on the situation of the pandemic. This is considered the right time for Hanoi to roll out the initiative.

The local authorities have been tasked with assessing the conditions for isolating F1 contacts and treating mild F0 cases at home. 'Upon identifying an F0 case, we will evaluate their health condition and family situation to decide if home care or hospitalization is more appropriate,' Hà explained.

It is also reported that Hanoi has prepared contingency plans for a scenario with 100,000 COVID-19 cases. Despite this, with the rapid transmission rates currently observed, the local government must remain proactive and decisive in addressing the ongoing crisis.

On November 30, 2021, Hanoi reported 468 new cases of SARS-CoV-2, marking the highest daily increase in F0 cases since the start of the outbreak.

The Hanoi Department of Health confirmed that of these 468 cases, 274 were community-acquired, 109 were in quarantine areas, and 61 were from lockdown zones.

The distribution of the 468 patients is as follows: Đông Anh (51), Mê Linh (44), Bắc Từ Liêm (41), Quốc Oai (39), Đống Đa (38), Nam Từ Liêm (27), Hoài Đức (25), Gia Lâm (23), Chương Mỹ and Hà Đông (21 each), Cầu Giấy (19), Hoàn Kiếm (18), Sóc Sơn (16), Thanh Oai and Thanh Trì (12 each), Ba Đình (10), Hoàng Mai (8), Hai Bà Trưng and Thường Tín (7 each), Thanh Xuân (6), Đan Phượng (5), Phú Xuyên (4), Sơn Tây, Thạch Thất, and Tây Hồ (3 each), Phúc Thọ and Long Biên (1 each).

On November 30, 2021, Vietnam reported 13,966 new COVID-19 cases across 62 provinces, with 7,549 cases originating from the community. The country has now administered 122 million doses of the vaccine.

Specific cases include: TPHCM (1,497), Cần Thơ (981), Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu (860), Tây Ninh (727), Sóc Trăng (714), Bình Dương (626), Đồng Tháp (602), Bình Thuận (592), Vĩnh Long (571), Bạc Liêu (537), Đồng Nai (514), Bình Phước (459), Bến Tre (439), Kiên Giang (426), Cà Mau (377), Hà Nội (367), Khánh Hòa (350), An Giang (294), Hậu Giang (286), Lâm Đồng (219), Tiền Giang (200), Bình Định (186), Trà Vinh (165), Hải Phòng (154), Đắk Lắk (140), Đắk Nông (124), Thừa Thiên Huế (119), Gia Lai (101), Nghệ An (90), Thanh Hóa (89), Bắc Ninh (85), Long An (80), Hà Tĩnh (78), Đà Nẵng (75), Quảng Ngãi (71), Hà Giang (65), Nam Định (64), Hải Dương (62), Ninh Thuận (61), Thái Nguyên (57), Quảng Nam (47), Phú Yên (44), Phú Thọ (39), Hòa Bình (37), Quảng Trị (36), Vĩnh Phúc (35), Quảng Ninh (33), Tuyên Quang (29), Thái Bình (27), Yên Bái (23), Lạng Sơn (20), Hưng Yên (18), Cao Bằng (17), Quảng Bình (17), Hà Nam (16), Kon Tum (8), Bắc Giang (7), Điện Biên (3), Lào Cai (2), Bắc Kạn (2), Ninh Bình (1), Sơn La (1).

The COVID-19 Prevention and Control Committee affirms that Ho Chi Minh City is currently managing the COVID-19 situation well, with an overall risk level of 2. The city has also prepared scenarios to address a surge in new cases if necessary.

During a press briefing on November 29, 2021, regarding the city's COVID-19 situation, a reporter asked: 'Is Ho Chi Minh City at risk of overloading its COVID-19 treatment system, given the recent rise in new infections?' In response, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Huỳnh Mai, the spokesperson for the city's health department, explained that according to the latest data, more than 11,000 patients were admitted to the city's Level 2 and 3 COVID-19 treatment facilities (with the most recent report showing over 14,580 patients). Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City has a total of 31,000 treatment beds.

Mrs. Mai added that the city has developed several contingency plans to prevent overwhelming the healthcare system. Additionally, Ho Chi Minh City has been successfully ramping up its vaccination campaign to reduce the COVID-19 mortality rate.

The Deputy Head of the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Committee called on residents to stay vigilant, not panic or become complacent, and to continue following the 5K principle.

On November 29, 2021, Vietnam recorded 13,758 new Covid-19 cases across 59 provinces and cities. The Ministry of Health has urged localities to proactively develop plans to handle potential outbreaks, especially with the new Omicron variant.

Specifically, the cases were distributed as follows: Ho Chi Minh City (1,554), Can Tho (913), Tay Ninh (719), Binh Duong (697), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (648), Dong Thap (608), Soc Trang (588), Binh Thuan (576), Tra Vinh (560), Vinh Long (559), Dong Nai (548), Bac Lieu (544), Binh Phuoc (516), Kien Giang (443), Hanoi (429), Ca Mau (396), An Giang (375), Ben Tre (335), Khanh Hoa (308), Hau Giang (294), Binh Dinh (195), Lam Dong (174), Ha Giang (163), Bac Ninh (145), Nghe An (143), Long An (122), Thua Thien Hue (119), Dak Nong (88), Thanh Hoa (87), Quang Nam (84), Hai Duong (69), Da Nang (65), Ninh Thuan (56), Nam Dinh (55), Phu Tho (54), Vinh Phuc (50), Tien Giang (50), Quang Ngai (47), Hoa Binh (46), Thai Nguyen (39), Hai Phong (36), Phu Yen (35), Tuyen Quang (30), Gia Lai (26), Hung Yen (22), Lang Son (20), Quang Binh (18), Quang Tri (18), Yen Bai (17), Cao Bang (13), Ha Nam (11), Bac Giang (11), Quang Ninh (9), Ninh Binh (9), Kon Tum (7), Thai Binh (7), Dien Bien (4), Lao Cai (3), Son La (1).

On November 29, 2021, Hanoi reported 390 new Covid-19 positive cases, including 220 community infections, 109 cases from quarantine zones, and 61 from lockdown areas. This marks the highest number of new cases for Hanoi since the outbreak began.

The 390 new cases were distributed across the city's districts as follows: Dong Da (177 cases), Dong Anh (23), Dan Phuong (23), Gia Lam (23), Quoc Oai (16), Hoai Duc (15), Hai Ba Trung (11), Me Linh (11), Ba Dinh (10), Ha Dong (10), Bac Tu Liem (8), Thanh Oai (8), Thuong Tin (7), Hoan Kiem (6), Tay Ho (6), Chuong My (5), Son Tay (5), My Duc (4), Thanh Xuan (4), Phu Xuyen (3), Ba Vi (3), Soc Son (2), Ung Hoa (2), Cau Giay (1), Long Bien (1), Nam Tu Liem (1), Thach That (1), Thanh Tri (1).

In the first 10 months of 2021, nearly 1,000 healthcare workers in Ho Chi Minh City resigned, with a slight increase in certain medical stations, according to the HCMC Health Department's statistics.

On the afternoon of November 29, 2021, the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee in Ho Chi Minh City held a press conference to update the local epidemic situation over the past four days.

Regarding the recent wave of resignations, HCMC Health Department's Chief of Staff, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, stated that in 2020, 597 healthcare workers resigned, while in the first 10 months of 2021, 988 workers submitted resignation requests, with a slight increase in some hospitals and health stations. The main reasons cited were personal factors and family circumstances. She also mentioned that if doctors don't wish to work in the public sector, they may seek employment in private healthcare systems.

It is known that individuals who have previously been infected with Covid-19 may be at higher risk of reinfection with Omicron compared to other variants (according to the WHO). In light of this dangerous new strain, how is Ho Chi Minh City preparing to respond?

On the afternoon of November 29, 2021, during a press conference on the local Covid-19 situation, when asked about the city's preparations to combat the newly emerged Omicron variant, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, Chief of Staff of the HCMC Health Department, quoted the WHO as saying that it is still unclear whether Omicron is more transmissible than other variants. The severity of the disease caused by Omicron is also uncertain, with the WHO noting that it is not yet known whether Omicron infections result in more severe illness compared to other variants.

Nevertheless, the WHO has provided preliminary evidence suggesting a potential increased risk of reinfection with Omicron. This means that individuals who have previously had Covid-19 may be more susceptible to reinfection with Omicron, though the data remains limited. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has stated that, through ongoing epidemiological surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, no cases of Covid-19 with the Omicron variant have been reported so far.

The HCMC Covid-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee has tasked the Health Department to closely monitor and follow the Ministry of Health's guidelines on combating the Omicron variant. The city needs to prepare scientific scenarios to be ready for the new variant.

On November 25, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the emergence of a new and concerning variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, named Omicron (B.1.1.529). This variant has the potential to spread more than 500% faster than the Delta variant, first detected in several Southern African countries such as South Africa and Botswana. The Ministry of Health has recommended halting flights to these affected regions.

According to scientists, Omicron was first identified in Botswana on November 24, with 32 mutations in the spike protein. This variant has the highest number of mutations ever seen in SARS-CoV-2, posing a higher risk of reinfection compared to other variants.

As of the morning of November 29, 2021, Vietnam's epidemiological surveillance has not yet detected any cases of the Omicron variant.

To proactively manage the situation and prevent the spread of Omicron into the country, the Ministry of Health has instructed relevant authorities to enhance Covid-19 surveillance and advised the public to remain vigilant to detect any abnormal signs and swiftly contain any outbreaks.

Furthermore, the Ministry has requested the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology to conduct genetic sequencing on suspected cases, especially those returning from South Africa. The Ministry will continue to work closely with WHO to receive timely information on Omicron and develop appropriate prevention measures based on the evolving situation.

COVID-19 cases in Vinh Long have been steadily rising in recent days, prompting the province to raise its alert level from 2 to 3. The new regulations will take effect starting November 30, 2021.

On November 28, Mr. Lữ Quang Ngời, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Long, signed a decree to escalate the local pandemic alert level to better combat COVID-19. The risk level was increased from medium (level 2 - yellow) to high (level 3 - orange).

Starting from November 30, Vinh Long will enforce level 3 measures. The decision to raise the alert level was made after the province recorded a significant number of new infections, averaging about 500 cases daily over the past five days. In response to the escalating situation, Vinh Long has established 7 field hospitals with nearly 4,000 beds to ensure the treatment and care of COVID-19 patients.

From 4 PM on November 27 to 4 PM on November 28, 2021, Vietnam recorded 12,928 new COVID-19 cases across 57 provinces, including 7,100 community transmissions. The vaccination drive for adults and children aged 12-17 is being accelerated as planned.

The highest number of cases were reported in Ho Chi Minh City (1,454 cases), Can Tho (966 cases), Binh Duong (705 cases), Tay Ninh (692 cases), Binh Thuan (598 cases), Dong Thap (592 cases), Binh Phuoc (591 cases), Dong Nai (553 cases), Vinh Long (545 cases), Ba Ria-Vung Tau (531 cases), Ben Tre (522 cases), Bac Lieu (512 cases), Soc Trang (491 cases), Kien Giang (439 cases), Ca Mau (387 cases), Hau Giang (294 cases), Hanoi (277 cases), Khanh Hoa (258 cases), An Giang (215 cases), Binh Dinh (193 cases), Bac Ninh (185 cases), Tien Giang (155 cases), Thua Thien Hue (136 cases), Lam Dong (133 cases), Hai Phong (128 cases), Long An (101 cases), Gia Lai (88 cases), Ha Giang (85 cases), Dak Lak (75 cases), Dak Nong (72 cases), Thanh Hoa (71 cases), Nghe An (70 cases), Da Nang (66 cases), Ha Tinh (65 cases), Quang Nam (64 cases), Vinh Phuc (58 cases), Thai Nguyen (58 cases), Ninh Thuan (57 cases), Hoa Binh (49 cases), Hai Duong (41 cases), Phu Tho (40 cases), Nam Dinh (40 cases), Thai Binh (34 cases), Quang Ngai (31 cases), Quang Ninh (28 cases), Tuyen Quang (27 cases), Hung Yen (27 cases), Quang Tri (26 cases), Phu Yen (23 cases), Quang Binh (21 cases), Yen Bai (17 cases), Ha Nam (16 cases), Bac Giang (11 cases), Dien Bien (7 cases), Lao Cai (5 cases), Bac Kan (2 cases), and Son La (1 case).

According to the Binh Thuan Department of Health, the highest number of cases is still in Phan Thiet City with 114 cases, including 73 community transmissions. Following that, Tuy Phong had 104 cases, Duc Linh had 87, and Bac Binh had 79 cases...

From April 27 to 6 PM on November 28, 2021, Binh Thuan reported 15,651 Covid-19 cases (6,514 of which were in Phan Thiet). Currently, 6,590 cases are being treated, and 8,951 have recovered. The death toll has reached 123 (13 deaths in Ho Chi Minh City).

To prevent further spread, the Department of Health is urging citizens to strictly adhere to the 5K protocol at all times, even after receiving both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Within 24 hours of receiving the F0 list from local authorities, Ho Chi Minh City's mobile health stations are required to reach out to households with Covid-19 cases to assess the situation and determine if home isolation is suitable.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issued Decision 4028 on the regulation for managing and treating F0 cases at home. This decision specifies that the Department of Health must create and implement treatment plans for Covid-19 patients at home, according to Ministry guidelines, while monitoring the compliance of medical staff caring for F0 cases at home.

For health stations, they must be prepared to receive and update the list of F0 cases in the local area, and assist in creating home treatment records for the patients.

On the afternoon of November 27, 2021, Ms. H (District 3 - HCMC), whose relative is being treated for Covid-19 at home, stated: “This is a very smart and wise plan, helping us to care for our loved ones effectively and safely.”

Community health stations must be responsible for reviewing and updating contact information of households with individuals at high risk of infection, such as the elderly, people with underlying health conditions, the obese, and pregnant women, in order to create the most suitable protection and care plans. Additionally, the contact numbers of the station and mobile health units in the area must be made public so that the public can call for assistance when needed. Furthermore, a doctor and 1-2 nurses from the Department of Health and at least three non-medical personnel appointed by local authorities are required to be part of the team.

On the afternoon of November 27, 2021, the Ministry of Health reported 13,063 new Covid-19 cases, with 13,048 of them locally transmitted.

The provinces and cities reporting new cases include: Ho Chi Minh City (1,773), Can Tho (954), Binh Duong (716), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (697), Tay Ninh (672), Dong Thap (604), Bac Lieu (574), Dong Nai (567), Binh Thuan (562), Vinh Long (539), Soc Trang (449), Kien Giang (427), Ca Mau (422), Tra Vinh (328), An Giang (324), Hanoi (310), Hau Giang (287), Ben Tre (265), Khanh Hoa (239), Binh Dinh (197), Ha Giang (165), Lam Dong (159), Binh Phuoc (139), Bac Ninh (137), Nghe An (124), Tien Giang (121), Long An (109), Gia Lai (109), Thua Thien Hue (106), Vinh Phuc (104), Dak Nong (85), Da Nang (66), Hoa Binh (60), Quang Nam (59), Quang Ngai (56), Thanh Hoa (55), Thai Nguyen (54), Ninh Thuan (46), Hai Duong (39), Phu Yen (36), Phu Tho (33), Thai Binh (32), Tuyen Quang (29), Nam Dinh (29), Lang Son (28), Quang Binh (27), Quang Tri (24), Hung Yen (22), Hai Phong (22), Quang Ninh (15), Cao Bang (10), Dien Bien (9), Bac Giang (9), Ha Tinh (8), Son La (4), Bac Kan (4), Yen Bai (3), Kon Tum (2), Ha Nam (2), Lao Cai (1).

Since the fourth wave of the pandemic began on April 27, Vietnam has recorded 1,192,200 Covid-19 cases, with 954,107 patients having recovered.

The B.1.1.529 variant, named Omicron by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been classified as a variant of concern due to its potential to increase the risk of reinfection with Covid-19.

On November 27, 2021, the WHO held a meeting with scientists to discuss the emergence of the B.1.1.529 variant in the South Africa region. Health experts are worried about the transmissibility of this variant due to its unusual mutations, which distinguish it from other variants.

The rise in Covid-19 cases in Gauteng province, South Africa, where Omicron was first identified, may be due to the variant’s ability to evade immunity more effectively than other variants.

On the afternoon of November 27, 2021, the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced 272 new Covid-19 cases.

Out of these, 146 were community infections, 88 were in quarantine centers, and 38 were in lockdown areas.

The cases were spread across 27 out of the 30 districts in Hanoi, including: Dong Da (71 cases), Dong Anh (26 cases), Bac Tu Liem (19 cases), Chuong My, Cau Giay (14 cases), Tay Ho (12 cases), Quoc Oai, Thanh Xuan (10 cases), Soc Son, Ha Dong (9 cases), Nam Tu Liem, Long Bien, Thanh Tri (8 cases), Thanh Oai (7 cases), Gia Lam (6 cases), Me Linh, Thuong Tin, Hoan Kiem (5 cases), Hoai Duc, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, Hoang Mai (4 cases), Thach That, Phu Xuyen (3 cases), My Duc (2 cases), Dan Phuong, Dong Da (1 case).

Since the beginning of the fourth wave (from April 27 onwards), Hanoi has recorded 9,368 Covid-19 cases, with 3,602 community infections and 5,766 cases from quarantine.

According to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control, on the first day of vaccination for Grade 9 students, the city administered 38,233 doses.

Hanoi has also continued its vaccination efforts by administering 11,466 doses to children aged 15 to 17. From November 23 to 17:30 on November 27, 2021, the city had given 277,747 doses to children under 18 years old. Students were scheduled for vaccination in shifts and at different locations, ensuring safe distances to facilitate smooth vaccination procedures.

According to representatives from Hanoi's Department of Health, the city will begin administering Covid-19 vaccines to Grade 9 students starting today, November 27, 2021.

The vaccination process for Grade 9 students will be similar to that of children aged 15 to 17, with vaccinations taking place either at the students' schools or at local health stations. For children with congenital conditions, digestive issues, or blood disorders, the district health centers will send the vaccine to hospitals for administration.

The vaccination program will ensure that all eligible children receive the vaccine, with a phased approach implemented by school. A total of 791,921 children in Hanoi are expected to be vaccinated, with 519,547 children aged 12-15 and 272,374 children aged 15-17 to be vaccinated.

On the afternoon of November 26, 2021, the US Embassy announced that 1.3 million Pfizer vaccine doses donated by the US to Vietnam via the Covax mechanism had arrived in Hanoi.

In total, more than 2 million Pfizer vaccine doses arrived in Vietnam on the morning of November 26. Additional vaccine shipments are also on their way. The US Embassy confirmed that the US has donated over 18 million doses to Vietnam through the Covax mechanism, reaffirming the US's commitment to supporting Vietnam in its fight against Covid-19.

As of the afternoon of November 26, Vietnam had administered 116,430,866 Covid-19 vaccine doses to the public (according to the Ministry of Health).

On the evening of November 26, 2021, the An Giang Covid-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee held an online meeting with local districts and relevant departments to discuss measures to reduce the rising death toll from Covid-19, which has become a concerning issue in the province.

According to Mr. Trần Quang Hiền, Director of the An Giang Health Department, the province has reported 340 deaths, all of whom were elderly individuals with underlying health conditions. Among these, 308 people had not received any vaccination, while 12 had only received their first dose. This highlights the higher risk of death for unvaccinated individuals compared to those who have been vaccinated.

Hospital representatives are concerned that if the number of severe Covid-19 cases continues to rise, healthcare facilities will become overwhelmed due to a lack of manpower and medical equipment. Mr. Lê Hồng Quang, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Covid-19 Steering Committee, urged all leaders to intensify communication efforts to make the public understand the serious consequences of not getting vaccinated, as the risk of death from Covid-19 is significantly higher for those who are unvaccinated. Furthermore, he advised that cities and districts should continue to increase monitoring and remind the public to stay vigilant and not be complacent with the disease.

On November 26, 2021, Hanoi Cancer Hospital announced that their medical team successfully operated on a rare case of mediastinal tumor. The patient, a 19-year-old woman from Phu Xuyen, Hanoi, sought medical help after experiencing chest pain and difficulty breathing. A 20cm tumor weighing over 1kg was found in her chest, pushing against her heart and compressing her lungs while also attaching to nearby organs.

The tumor, located in the right anterior mediastinum, contained hair, teeth, and bone. If detected earlier, the tumor could have been removed using minimally invasive surgery. However, due to the patient's delayed visit, the tumor grew too large, making the operation much more challenging. Doctors encourage people to seek medical attention when experiencing unusual symptoms.

On November 26, 2021, the Director of Bac Giang's Department of Health informed the media that four students from Son Dong district experienced anaphylactic shock after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. Two of the students who were in critical condition were rushed to Bach Mai Hospital for emergency treatment.

On November 24, the ethnic minority boarding school in Son Dong and the mobile vaccination site at Son Dong 2 High School administered the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine to students. During the vaccination, four students had unusual reactions. Two of them showed severe symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, nausea, and difficulty breathing. They were immediately transported to the district's Health Center. On the way, their skin turned pale, their heart rates slowed, and their blood oxygen levels dropped below 90%. The other two students had milder symptoms and were monitored at the Health Center.

After two days of intensive treatment at Bach Mai Hospital, the two critical students have shown remarkable improvement and are out of danger.

On the evening of November 26, 2021, the Hanoi Department of Health reported the detection of 264 Covid-19 positive cases in the area, including 130 cases in the community, 111 cases in quarantine zones, and 23 cases in lockdown areas.

The 264 cases were spread across 29 out of 30 districts and towns, with the following distribution: Dong Da (36 cases), Ha Dong (29 cases), Long Bien (19 cases), Nam Tu Liem (15 cases), Hoang Mai (14 cases), Thanh Tri (13 cases), Me Linh (13 cases), Hai Ba Trung (13 cases), Ba Dinh (12 cases), Dong Anh (12 cases), Gia Lam (11 cases), Cau Giay (10 cases), Quoc Oai (10 cases), Bac Tu Liem (9 cases), Thanh Xuan (7 cases), Ung Hoa (6 cases), Thanh Oai (5 cases), Son Tay (5 cases), Phu Xuyen (4 cases), Tay Ho (4 cases), Thuong Tin (4 cases), Hoai Duc (2 cases), Chuong My (3 cases), My Duc (2 cases), Thanh Oai (2 cases), Hoan Kiem (2 cases), Thanh Tri (1 case), Dan Phuong (1 case), Soc Son (1 case).

On the evening of November 25, 2021, the Thanh Hoa Department of Health reported to the provincial Covid-19 Steering Committee the findings of the Expert Council regarding the cause of the vaccine reactions at Kim Viet Shoe Company (Nong Cong District). The cause of the deaths of 3 workers and the critical condition of another was identified as anaphylactic shock following vaccination. This conclusion was made at an emergency meeting held at the company where the incident occurred.

Earlier, on November 18, Nong Cong District in Thanh Hoa was allocated 53,000 doses of the Vero Cell vaccine as part of the Covid-19 vaccination plan. During the same round of vaccinations, two other vaccines, Moderna and Abdala, were also distributed, with proper transport and storage procedures followed for all types of vaccines.

By November 23, the district began administering the Vero Cell vaccine to the population. However, after the medical staff had administered about 10,000 doses, several female workers at Kim Viet Shoe Company exhibited unusual symptoms. They were immediately given first aid and transferred to Thanh Hoa General Hospital for treatment.

As of November 25, 3 workers had died, 9 others were still receiving treatment at Thanh Hoa General Hospital, including one in critical condition. Around 60 workers with milder symptoms are being monitored at the Nong Cong District Hospital.

Currently, the number of Covid-19 cases in Ho Chi Minh City has significantly decreased compared to July and August, but the death rate remains high, with over 50 deaths per day.

On the afternoon of November 25, 2021, Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, the Chief of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health's Office, shared that although the number of new Covid-19 cases has slightly increased in recent days, the death toll has not decreased much. Mai also pointed out that calculating the death rate by dividing the total number of deaths by the number of hospitalized cases is not accurate, as many severely ill patients require extended treatment, and cannot be simply counted in the same category.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health's analysis, a significant number of patients have been transferred from other provinces, some of whom have a poor prognosis, contributing to the rise in deaths in the city. Mai identified two key reasons for the high number of deaths. First, many patients have underlying health conditions that, combined with Covid-19, cause rapid multi-organ failure. Second, a large portion of patients have not received sufficient vaccination, especially among the elderly over 65, who make up a significant proportion.

The Department of Health has advised the City People's Committee on various strategies to manage Covid-19 cases at home, and treatment efforts at district levels, with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of severe cases and fatalities.

On the afternoon of November 25, 2021, the leader of the Nghia Dan District's Department of Education and Training informed the public that nearly 500 students and teachers from Loi Lac Boarding Secondary School were forced into quarantine after being identified as F1 contacts of Mrs. B.T.T. (a local grocery seller whose husband works as a security guard at the school).

The school has a total of 474 students. Of these, 199 teachers and students, who were direct contacts, are required to undergo mandatory isolation, while the rest must quarantine at home.

According to reports, on November 23, 2021, Mrs. T developed symptoms including fever, cough, and fatigue, followed by a positive rapid test result. She was immediately tested and her sample was sent to the Provincial Disease Control Center. On November 24, 2021, she was confirmed to be Covid-19 positive.

The Mekong Delta is currently a hotspot for the Covid-19 outbreak, with Can Tho City reporting over 1,000 new cases for the first time in a single day.

According to a report from the Can Tho City Department of Health, on November 25, 2021, the city recorded 1,310 new Covid-19 cases, marking the highest daily number ever reported in the city. Over the past week, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Can Tho has reached 6,495. As of now, there are 3,056 F0 patients receiving hospital treatment, and 6,841 are being treated at home.

On the same day, the neighboring provinces also reported significant increases in cases: Soc Trang with a record 532 new cases, Ca Mau with 287, Tien Giang with 123, Dong Thap with 609, and An Giang with 387. Covid-19 infections have been rapidly rising across the Mekong Delta in recent weeks.

On November 25, 2021, the Ministry of Health reported a total of 12,450 new Covid-19 cases, with 12,429 of them spread across 59 provinces, marking an increase of 640 cases compared to the previous day. The southern provinces continue to lead in the number of infections.

This is the first time in 75 days that the national total has exceeded 12,000 cases. Of the new cases, 5,587 were found in quarantine zones or locked-down areas (an increase of 376), while 6,842 cases were in the community (an increase of 264). Eight provinces reported over 500 new cases, including Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Tay Ninh, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Bac Lieu, Dong Thap, and Dong Nai. The provinces with the highest daily increases were Lam Dong (211 cases), Bac Lieu (199), and Binh Phuoc (197); while Bac Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, and Vinh Phuc saw decreases of 119, 84, and 79 cases respectively. The average number of new cases reported in the last 7 days is 10,666 per day.

From 17:30 on November 24 to 17:30 on November 25, a total of 164 deaths were reported, including 59 in Ho Chi Minh City, with 12 of the deceased coming from other provinces such as An Giang, Bac Lieu, Binh Duong, Binh Thuan, Dong Thap, Khanh Hoa, Quang Tri, and Tien Giang. Other provinces with notable death tolls included An Giang (17), Tien Giang and Binh Duong (13 each), Kien Giang (10), and several other provinces with smaller numbers. The average daily death toll over the past 7 days has been 133. The total death count in Vietnam now stands at 24,407, with a fatality rate of 2.1%. As of the latest update, there have been 1,163,054 domestic infections, with 940,071 recoveries.

On the evening of November 25, 2021, a special flight carrying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese high-level delegation landed at Noi Bai airport, bringing with it over 1.54 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by Japan. The donation was announced by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio during his meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 24. At the airport, Minister of Defense Phan Van Giang handed over the vaccines to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

Minister Giang also presented one million USD from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) to Deputy Minister of Finance Vo Thanh Hung, which will be used for Vietnam's pandemic control efforts. With this, Japan has now donated a total of 5.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Vietnam, along with various medical equipment and supplies. Both countries continue to collaborate closely on vaccine and treatment drug research and production.

From November 22 to 25, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-level delegation officially visited Japan at the invitation of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of November 25, Vietnam has administered a total of 114.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, including 68.4 million first doses and 46.1 million second doses. Localities are continuing their vaccination efforts to quickly achieve full first-dose coverage and administer second doses to those who are eligible. Nearly 30 provinces and cities have already vaccinated children aged 12-17, with more than 2 million doses administered.

The Ministry of Health is also preparing plans for the third dose vaccination for priority groups, with plans to begin by the end of December. Localities have reviewed and registered their vaccine needs for the rest of the year and for 2022 to ensure an adequate vaccine supply.

On November 25, 2021, at 8:00 PM, an online consultation took place with the topic 'Endoscopy Screening and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancer' featuring leading experts and doctors from Tam Anh General Hospital: Dr. Do Minh Hung, Director of the Endoscopy and Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgery Center; Dr. Tran Vuong Thao Nghi, Head of the Oncology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City; Dr. Nguyen Quoc Thai, Head of the Digestive Surgery Department, Endoscopy and Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgery Center.

The experts and doctors responded to frequently asked questions about endoscopy screening and treatment, including:

1. Who should undergo gastric, esophageal, and colonoscopy screenings?
2. When is the best time to perform screening endoscopy?
3. What are the advantages of sedation endoscopy (painless endoscopy)?
4. Are there any other screening methods besides endoscopy?
5. Recent advancements in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.

The session attracted millions of online viewers. Throughout the program, many questions were thoroughly answered by the specialists.

On the morning of November 25, 2021, the Hanoi People's Committee issued a plan to implement 'Safe, Flexible Adaptation, and Effective Control of COVID-19' within the city. According to this plan, based on the existing structure of hospital beds and medical personnel, the city is estimating the distribution of patients according to treatment tiers for the upcoming period: 2% severe or critical cases, 6% moderate cases, and 92% mild or asymptomatic patients.

The city will continue to categorize the treatment of COVID-19 patients into three tiers based on their condition. Additionally, Hanoi will operate in three phases to scale up its treatment capacity, corresponding to 10,000, 40,000, and 100,000 COVID-19 cases. Tier 1 is responsible for the isolation and treatment of mild or asymptomatic patients at various city-run facilities and local mobile health stations. Tier 2 treats moderate cases at district and city hospitals, while Tier 3 manages severe and critical cases at city and central hospitals and ministries.

For mobile health stations, Hanoi will initially pilot the project in five districts: the Cultural and Sports Center in Thach Ban, Long Bien District (150 beds); Tien Yen Secondary School, Hoai Duc District (300 beds); Minh Phu General Clinic, Soc Son District (200 beds); Vocational Education Center, Thanh Tri District (300 beds); and Le Thanh A Kindergarten, My Duc District (200 beds).

On November 24, 2021, Russia announced advancements in the development of its COVID-19 vaccines, including a version of the Sputnik vaccine for children and a nasal spray vaccine that President Vladimir Putin used as a booster dose. The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) declared that the country plans to export the nasal spray vaccine to other nations next year.

President Putin stated that he received the booster dose last week, six months after his second dose of Sputnik V, and then used the nasal spray vaccine. He reported no health issues following the use of these vaccines.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova mentioned that the Ministry of Health plans to register the new Sputnik M vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, with its use expected to begin at the end of December. Currently, around 37% of the population in Russia has been fully vaccinated. In recent weeks, the country has reported over 1,000 deaths from COVID-19 daily. According to government data, Russia has recorded over 9.4 million cases of the virus, the fifth-highest globally, with more than 266,000 deaths.

On December 2nd, Hanoi recorded an additional 509 cases of COVID-19, including 233 cases from the community, 198 from quarantine zones, and 78 from locked-down areas.

The cases were spread across various districts: Dong Da (75 cases), Gia Lam (45 cases), Ba Dinh (41 cases), Thanh Xuan (30 cases), Nam Tu Liem (25 cases), Ha Dong (23 cases), Hoan Kiem (23 cases), Soc Son (20 cases), Thuong Tin (19 cases), Chuong My (17 cases), Tay Ho (17 cases), Hai Ba Trung (16 cases), Hoai Duc (16 cases), Thanh Oai (16 cases), Bac Tu Liem (15 cases), Hoang Mai (15 cases), My Duc (15 cases), Dan Phuong (14 cases), Me Linh (12 cases), Thanh Tri (10 cases), Long Bien (8 cases), Quoc Oai (8 cases), Phu Xuyen (5 cases), Phuc Tho (5 cases), Ba Vi (4 cases), Cau Giay (4 cases), Dong Anh (4 cases), Ung Hoa (4 cases), Thach That (2 cases), Son Tay (1 case).

With the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, Hanoi's Health Department has urgently instructed local authorities to roll out isolation, management, and home treatment plans for patients.

This directive is outlined in Official Dispatch No. 26/CĐ-UBND, signed by the Chairman of Hanoi’s People's Committee on December 2 and addressed to leaders of all departments and localities across the city.

The dispatch reveals that from November 25 to December 1, Hanoi reported 1,751 COVID-19 cases, with 38% being community transmissions. Despite the quick identification and containment of many outbreaks, the number of cases remains high, necessitating immediate measures to safely adapt to and effectively control the pandemic.

Specifically, Hanoi’s People's Committee has instructed local leaders to collaborate with relevant units to expand quarantine facilities, including voluntary isolation in accommodations and home isolation for mild and asymptomatic patients using mobile health stations.

On December 2, Mr. Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, urgently issued a document to all hospitals in the city, urging them to prepare for the admission of COVID-19 patients under the new circumstances.

The Department of Health instructed hospitals to thoroughly reassess and restructure their facilities to accommodate the needs of treating both COVID-19 patients and regular medical conditions. Hospitals fully converted to treat COVID-19 cases include: Ho Chi Minh City Tropical Diseases Hospital, Trung Vuong Hospital, An Binh Hospital, and Cu Chi District Hospital.

Several hospitals, including Eastern Military-Civilian Hospital, Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, Tu Du Hospital, Hung Vuong Hospital, Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital, and Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital, have separate sections for COVID-19 patients. These hospitals have created distinct spaces to treat COVID-19 cases while maintaining separate entrances.

The total capacity of hospital beds dedicated to COVID-19 treatment is about 4,300.