Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have decided to turn two hospitals into COVID-19 treatment facilities, raising the total number of beds for coronavirus patients in the city to 5,000.

Nine hospitals with 3,500 beds are currently providing COVID-19 treatment in Ho Chi Minh City, according to the municipal Department of Health.

As the number of cases in the metropolis recently passed 2,000, local health authorities have decided to temporarily transform Binh Chanh District Hospital and Thu Duc Regional General Hospital into infirmaries specializing in receiving and treating COVID-19 patients.

All medical examination and treatment activities for outpatients and inpatients at Binh Chanh District Hospital will be suspended.

The venue will become Binh Chanh COVID-19 Treatment Hospital, which is expected to be put into operation on Friday.

It has a capacity of 500 beds and 20 resuscitation beds.

The Department of Health assigned the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital to provide medical support for Binh Chanh COVID-19 Treatment Hospital.

At Thu Duc Regional General Hospital, medical examination and treatment for inpatients will be halted, but the infirmary is still allowed to provide such services for outpatients.

The facility will be turned into Thu Duc COVID-19 Treatment Hospital and put into operation next Monday.

The hospital will be divided into two separate zones, with one providing services for outpatients and the other receiving and treating COVID-19 patients.

Inpatients at Thu Duc Regional General Hospital will be transferred to Le Van Viet Hospital and Thu Duc City Hospital for further treatment.

Thu Duc COVID-19 Treatment Hospital will have 1,000 beds and 25 resuscitation beds.

Vietnam had documented 14,116 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday afternoon, with 5,684 recoveries and 72 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 10,820 local infections in 45 provinces and cities, including 2,175 cases in Ho Chi Minh City, since a new outbreak began on April 27.

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