HANOI: The Vietnam country reported 515 new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, the highest daily increase since the pandemic hit the country last year. The infections included 503 locally transmitted and 12 imported cases, bringing the total tally to 12,150, according to its Ministry of Health. Among the community cases, 495 were reported in quarantine facilities or lockdown areas. In terms of localities, 327 were detected in the northern epidemic hotspot Bac Giang province, 137 in the southern Ho Chi Minh City, and 13 in the southern Tien Giang province, according to the news of Xinhua. The reports says, most of them are contacts of previously confirmed cases or linked to the clusters of infections in the localities. Nationwide, as many as 4,653 Covid-19 patients have so far recovered, up 63 from Wednesday, and nearly 182,500 people are being quarantined and monitored. As of Thursday, Vietnam has registered a total of 10,483 domestically transmitted Covid-19 cases, including 8,913 detected since the start of the latest outbreak in late April, according to the health ministry. US envoy for North Korea to meet with South Korean, Japanese counterparts China Iron Mine Accident: 13 Workers’ death confirmed Israel: Health Ministry issues severe travel warning against UAE