HANOI, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam recorded 3,191 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, down by 687 from Wednesday, according to its ministry of health.

All the new cases were locally transmitted, said the ministry.

The newly reported infections brought the total tally to 11,431,823. The country reported a new death from the pandemic in the northern Quang Ninh province on Thursday, bringing the total fatalities to 43,126.

As of Thursday, 154 severe cases were in need of assisted breathing in the Southeast Asian country, according to the ministry.

Nationwide, 10,261,401 COVID-19 patients, or nearly 90 percent of the total infections, have recovered.

More than 257.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country, including over 219.4 million shots on people aged 18 and above, said the ministry.

Also on Thursday, the ministry issued a guideline on wearing masks, which made it mandatory for people with an acute respiratory infection or suspected COVID-19 infection, as well as all people aged over five in public places in areas with higher risks of COVID-19 infection to wear masks.

Wearing masks is also required at medical facilities and accommodations hosting people undertaking medical quarantine or supervision, according to the guideline.

Vietnam has already recorded COVID-19 infections with the Omicron BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.12.1 and BA.2.74 sub-variants, and is accelerating the inoculation of its people with a fourth vaccine dose.