Quick SARS-CoV-2 tests conducted in Hà Nội's Cầu Giấy District. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — For the first time in almost a month, Việt Nam has no new cases of coronavirus to report.

The National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced Sunday morning that nobody has tested positive overnight.

It is the first time the country has been able to record zero cases since March 6.

So far, the amount of people nationwide carrying the virus remains at 240. Of those, 149 are Vietnamese nationals who have returned home from overseas and 61 cases are connected to the Bạch Mai hospital in Hà Nội.

There are 69,266 people currently in quarantine. Among these, 1,268 people are being monitored at hospitals, 44,667 people are quarantined at centres or other establishments and 22,331 are self-quarantined at home.

In Hà Nội, the total number of samples tested by PCR, the most accurate way to detect the disease, is 8,886, none of which are positive.

And there is more good news.

The Ministry of Health said four COVID-19 patients in a serious condition have made positive progress.

Patient number 19 no longer needs Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) - a heart-lung by-pass machine, that pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest.  The patient was taken off the machine on April 4 after she tested positive for COVID-19 on March 26, 27 and 29.

Three other people have been weaned off ventilators over several days and are now practicing breathing on their own.

Among these, patient number 161 is 88 years-old and has other conditions including cerebral hemorrhage, high blood pressure, diabetes and aortic valve regurgitation.

She is now in a clinically stable condition. — VNS