A medical worker takes a sample from a resident in Hai Bà Trưng District's Đồng Nhân Ward of Hà Nội for COVID-19 testing on Friday.  —  VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — A total of 8,537 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Việt Nam on Friday, bringing the nationwide total to 736,972.

An additional 203 COVID-related deaths were recorded, bringing the total number to 18,220. 

Out of the new cases, seven were imported and quarantined upon arrival.

The number of infections dropped by 935 cases compared to Thursday’s figures.

HCM City still has the highest infection figures, with 3,786 cases; followed by the neighbouring provinces of Bình Dương (2,978) and Đồng Nai (803).

Hà Nội recorded only five cases, with one community transmission and four quarantined in facilities.

Other areas that have recorded new cases are: Kiên Giang (203 cases), Long An (194), Tiền Giang (112), An Giang (90), Cần Thơ (57), Tây Ninh (53), Đồng Tháp (40), Đắk Lắk (33), Bình Thuận (24), Khánh Hòa (19), Bình Định (18), Ninh Thuận (16), Hà Nam (15), Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu (13), Vĩnh Long (11), Quảng Bình (9), Phú Yên (9), Quảng Ngãi (7), Cà Mau (6), Đắk Nông (4), Đà Nẵng (4), Thừa Thiên Huế (4), Quảng Trị (4), Hậu Giang (4), Bến Tre (3), Bình Phước (2), Trà Vinh (1), Nghệ An (1), Thanh Hóa (1), and Bạc Liêu (1).

12,371 patients were announced to have fully recovered from the virus, bringing the national total of recoveries to 505,859.

Việt Nam has so far administered nearly 36.8 million doses of vaccines. — VNS