Grade 1 students attend a school in Thủ Đức City, HCM City, on February 14, when all schools finally reopened. Health facilities in HCM City have been told to assess their ability to care for COVID patients since the daily infection numbers are on the rise after Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Health has called on healthcare facilities and other relevant authorities to evaluate and improve their capability to care for COVID-19 patients, especially those at home, amid a rise in caseload caused by people travelling during the Tết holidays and reopening of schools.

All districts and Thủ Đức City have been told to ensure that wards and communes could look after patients at home and local health facilities could admit patients, and make adjustments to their facilities if needed.

Ward-level officials have been told to closely monitor new cases.

The city, the country’s COVID epicentre, is seeing a daily rise in infections since the end of Tết (February 6), and on February 18 recorded 715 new cases, the highest number this year.

The department had anticipated a slight rise in numbers after Tết, and has been ensuring the pandemic remains under control, especially the Omicron variant.

Most of the new COVID cases are asymptomatic or have slight symptoms. — VNS