Six out of the nine patients who recovered on Friday wave to goodbye to the National Hospital for Tropical Disease 2. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — No new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Việt Nam overnight, officials revealed on Saturday morning.

The total amount of people who have contracted the virus remains at 257, although more than half of those have made a full recovery.

On Friday evening, the Ministry of Health said there were two new cases detected, one locally transmitted and the other a returnee coming home to Việt Nam from Russia.

Twelve hours later in their Saturday morning update, officials said not a single patient tested positive overnight.

Right now, there are 113 people being treated for the disease at 16 medical centres across the country. Of those, 20 have tested negative once and eight people have tested negative twice.

Most patients carrying the disease are in the nation’s capital, which has seen 120 people test positive. Of those, 58 have recovered.

In HCM City 54 people have tested positive for coronavirus although 40 have been treated and given the all clear.

Meanwhile the authorities are urging people not to break social distancing rules, as many appear to be flaunting regulations, particularly in the major cities of Hà Nội and HCM City.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has called on law enforcement agencies to swiftly deal with people who are leaving their homes for non-essential reasons.

He also called on the authorities to punish people seen out in public who are not wearing a face mask.

Nine COVID-19 patients were released from hospital on Friday afternoon, bringing the total recoveries nation-wide to 144.— VNS