Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have lifted a ban on several areas traced back to recent community-based COVID-19 cases, as all people having contact with the patients have completed their 14-day quarantine period.

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) confirmed on Wednesday morning that no local infections have been detected in the southern metropolis since December 2.

All locations visited by COVID-19 patients 1,342, 1,347, 1,348, and 1,349 are no longer sealed off after all people having contact with the patients have completed their 14-day quarantine period and tested negative for the novel coronavirus.

The four patients were confirmed in late November and early this month after Vietnam had spent 88 days detecting zero domestic infections.

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, the apartment building at 50 Bach Dang Street in Tan Binh District and ICOOL karaoke shop in District 10 – two of these places – are no longer guarded by officers.

Ho Chi Minh City has recorded 143 COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, the HCDC reported.

Among them, 126 have recovered while 17 are receiving treatment at local hospitals.

A total of 2,142 people are being quarantined at local facilities, and 77 others are spending their quarantine period at home and hotels.

Nearly 11,290 cabin crew members of inbound international flights have been quarantined upon arrival, of whom 20 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Authorities will continue monitoring the health condition of recovered patients following their hospital discharge and of those who have finished their 14-day quarantine period.

Regular inspections will also be carried out at hotels, hospitals, and quarantine centers.

The HCDC advised citizens to strictly comply with the five rules of COVID-19 prevention measures, including wearing face masks, washing hands, keeping safe distance, avoiding large crowds, and completing health declarations.

Vietnam has documented 1,405 COVID-19 cases, with 1,252 recoveries and 35 deaths, as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

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