HCMC health authorities advise mask use in crowded places amid Covid spike

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has called for wearing face masks when visiting medical facilities or crowded places and using public transport amid an increasing incidence of Covid-19.

It reported Thursday that hospitals across the city have admitted 40 Covid patients since mid-April, though none have required respiratory support.

Last week alone there were 16 new cases—10 more than the average of the previous four weeks.

However, this year there have been only 51 cases, an 83% decline from the same period last year.

In the first 14 weeks of the year there were only one or two cases a week, but the number has been rising noticeably since mid-April though no outbreaks have been detected as such.

Elsewhere in Vietnam too there has been a slight uptick in last three weeks, with around 20 cases reported per week though none with severe symptoms.

Health authorities suspect the increased travel and gathering during the recent festivals contributed to the increased incidence and that it could continue for a while.

While no serious cases or dangerous variants have been reported, the growing number of infections impacts daily life.

The HCMC Department of Health also advises people to wash their hands regularly with soap or sanitizer, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and avoid spitting in public.

It encourages them to maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly to strengthen immunity, seek timely medical attention in case of symptoms such as cough, fever or shortness of breath and monitor their health and take precautions to prevent transmission to others if they return from outbreak areas.

The city’s Center for Disease Control continues to monitor Covid-19 trends locally, nationally and globally.

Healthcare authorities remain vigilant against virus variants and are maintaining public health measures accordingly.

There has also been a resurgence of Covid in Thailand, but Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has urged the public not to panic.

The nation reported over 53,600 cases and 16 deaths since the beginning of this year, with Bangkok accounting for more than 16,700 of them.

There was a sharp increase in the post-Songkran festival period, possibly due to mass gatherings and the emergence of the XBB.1.16 subvariant.

Somsak said that factors and mass gatherings are contributing to rising infection rates.

He said Covid has become a year-round endemic disease which, while still highly transmissible, has declined in severity.

Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of remaining vigilant and adhering to public precautions like wearing masks.

By Le Phuong – VnExpress.net – May 15, 2025