HANOI, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported 12,420 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, including 12,399 locally transmitted and 21 imported, according to the country's Ministry of Health.

This photograph taken on August 29, 2021 shows an improvised barricade, installed to restrict residents' movements, in front of a neighbourhood in Hanoi, as part of the authorities' plan to stop the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. (Photo: CFP)

The new infections brought the country's total tally to 576,096, with 14,470 deaths, the ministry said.

Most of the community cases were detected in southern localities, including 5,549 in the epicenter Ho Chi Minh City, 4,531 in Binh Duong province, and 880 in Dong Nai province.

As many as 338,170 COVID-19 patients have so far recovered, up 12,523 from Wednesday, while 24.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered nationwide, according to the ministry.

As of Thursday, Vietnam has registered a total of 571,745 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since the start of the current wave in late April, the ministry said.