Vietnam’s Ministry of Health announced 250 additional coronavirus cases and one virus-related death on Tuesday, most in northern Bac Giang Province.

The only fatality was a 76-year-old man treated in Hanoi, the health ministry said, adding that he came from northern Lang Son Province.

Bac Giang Province, now Vietnam’s virus epicenter, recorded 124 of the latest cases while Ho Chi Minh City logged 70 patients, all linked to a religious mission.

Vietnam has registered 4,496 local infections in 37 out of its 63 provinces and cities since April 27, when the country’s fourth wave broke out, according to the health ministry’s data.

Bac Giang is leading the tally with 2,376 patients, followed by Bac Ninh with 876, Hanoi with 414, and Ho Chi Minh City with 227.

Fourteen provinces have registered zero new cases in the past two weeks.

The southern city reinstated enhanced social distancing on Monday, slated to last for 15 days. Non-essential businesses have been closed while the elderly are advised to stay home.

Overall, Vietnam has detected 7,572 coronavirus infections, including 6,065 domestic cases and 3,043 recoveries, since the virus first hit it on January 23, 2020.

Vietnam has fought four virus waves so far, the latest being the worst.

The nation confirmed 106 community cases in the first wave from January 23 to April 16, 2020, 554 in the second from July 25 to December 1, 2020, and 910 in the third from January 28 to March 25, 2021. 

The Southeast Asian country has administered 1,102,099 coronavirus vaccine shots to medical staff and other frontline workers since it rolled out inoculation on March 8.

About 30,600 people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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