HANOI - The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Wednesday urged the public to remain vigilant and continue practicing COVID-19 prevention measures as case numbers are rising in several countries around the world.

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The advisory, which calls for preventive measures such as wearing face masks in public spaces and avoiding large gatherings, came amid a slight uptick in domestic infections and growing global concern over the spread of new subvariants, particularly in neighboring countries like Thailand, Vietnam News Agency reported.

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Since the beginning of 2025, Vietnam has recorded 148 scattered COVID-19 cases across 27 provinces and cities, with no fatalities reported.

While there have been no major outbreaks, the ministry noted a gradual rise in weekly cases over the past three weeks, averaging 20 new infections per week.

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Vietnamese health authorities have warned that new cases may increase in the coming weeks, especially following recent holidays that saw high levels of travel and social activity.

However, a significant rise in severe cases is not anticipated, the ministry said.