NDO/VNA - Vietnam logged 13,698 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours to 4pm on December 2, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new infections, including 21 imported ones, raised the total number in the country since the start of the pandemic to 1,266,288.

Ho Chi Minh City topped the list with 1,738, followed by Can Tho (985), Tay Ninh (768), Soc Trang (747), Ba Ria-Vung Tau (637), Dong Thap (606), Binh Thuan (502), Ca Mau (496), Bac Lieu (492), Dong Nai (475) and Binh Phuoc (472).

The capital Hanoi registered a further 499 transmissions, marking a record total for the city for the second consecutive day.

Dak Lak, Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces showed positive signs with the number of new infections decreasing by 284, 228 and 119 respectively compared to the previous day.

The ministry also announced 210 fatalities, bringing the COVID death toll in Vietnam to 25,658.

A further 13,258 patients recovered from the virus on the day, raising the total number of recoveries to 1,005,310.

The country has so far administered more than 125 million vaccine doses, with 52.7 million people fully inoculated.