A medical worker sprays disinfectant in a COVID-19 patient’s residence in Bình Thuận Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Thanh

BÌNH THUẬN — Five new cases of COVID-19 infections were reported on Thursday in the central coastal province of Bình Thuận, increasing the number of infected cases in Việt Nam to 44.

All five new cases were related to the 34th patient.

Out of 56 blood samples sent to Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang on Tuesday and Wednesday, five tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The 40th, 41st and 42nd cases are a two-year-old girl, a 59-year-old man and 28-year-old man, respectively, in Phan Thiết City who were all reported to be in close contact with the 34th patient.

The 43rd case is a 47-year-old woman in Phan Thiết City who had close contact with the 38th patient – the 34th patient’s daughter-in-law.

The 44th case is a 13-year-old boy in Hàm Thuận Bắc District who had close contact with the 37th patient – the 34th patient’s employee.

The 34th case of COVID-19 reported on Tuesday is a 51-year-old woman from Phan Thiết City.

On February 22, she flew to New York and transited at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport.

She returned from Washington DC, transited at Qatar’s Doha International Airport on February 29 and landed at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in HCM City on March 2.

Three people in contact with her were also confirmed as positive for the virus on Wednesday.

Four of them are now being treated at Bình Thuận Province General Hospital.

Võ Ngọc Anh Thơ, deputy head of HCM City-based Chợ Rẫy Hospital’s Department of Tropical Diseases, who is in charge of these patients, said they were in stable conditions but still needed monitoring in the upcoming days. — VNS