A teenager is vaccinated in HCM City’s Củ Chi District. — VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hương

HCM CITY — HCM City has set up eight field hospitals with nearly 300 beds each to treat moderately ill COVID-19 patients and people with underlying medical conditions as the number of COVID-19 cases rises, according to the city Department of Health.

The department also set up 70 mobile medical stations in wards and communes with a high number of COVID-19 patients, Dr Nguyễn Hữu Hưng, the department’s deputy head, said at a press meeting on Monday.  

The city will continue to set up new mobile medical stations based on the COVID-19 situation in districts and Thủ Đức City. Each station will have one doctor, one or two nurses, and volunteers to treat COVID-19 patients at home.

According to the city Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, nearly 47,000 COVID-19 patients are being treated at home, accounting for 73 per cent of the city’s total number of COVID-19 patients.

Districts Hóc Môn, Nhà Bè and 12, and Thủ Đức City currently have a high number of COVID-19 cases. 

Thủ Đức City has maintained three quarantine facilities, two field hospitals and three COVID-19 treatment hospitals. Its wards also are setting up more quarantine facilities with 30-50 beds each.  

In District 12, most COVID-19 patients have no or mild symptoms. They also are fully vaccinated so they are being treated at home. The district has medical staff that deliver medicine and conduct examinations of patients at home.

The district has also allowed workers who have contracted COVID-19 to be treated at their manufacturing facility.  

Bình Chánh District has maintained 19 mobile medical stations to be ready again, if necessary.

Hóc Môn District has 31 mobile medical stations that treat COVID-19 patients at home, along with one health centres in communes and towns.

District 7 has set up a hotline 7300499 for information about COVID-19 patients and the nearest health stations.

The city has prepared four scenarios to adapt to four risk levels of COVID-19.

Phạm Đức Hải, deputy head of the city's Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said the city is at a medium risk level of COVID spread. However, Cần Giờ District remains at a high risk.

The number of deaths from COVID has increased in the last few days in the city.

The city Department of Education and Training has proposed that a second COVID-19 vaccine shot for students aged 12-17 should start on November 22.

As of November 15, 662,838 aged 12-17 have received the first shot. Districts and Thủ Đức City have continued to give the first shot to the remaining 5,590. — VNS