HANOI, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam confirmed a new COVID-19 infection in its southern Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, bringing the total number in the country to 48, its Ministry of Health announced.

The latest case is a 31-year-old man from Ho Chi Minh City who was in contact with Vietnam's 34th confirmed case, a 51-year-old Vietnamese female who has traveled to the United States and transferred in South Korea and Qatar before returning home on March 2, in central Binh Thuan province. He was on a same car with the country's 45th case, who was confirmed by the health ministry on Friday and was also reportedly in contact with the 34th case.

The newly confirmed patient conducted self-quarantine from Wednesday when receiving the information about the 34th case testing positive for COVID-19. He was transferred to a concentrated quarantine site in Ho Chi Minh City.

So far Vietnam has recorded 48 infected cases with 16 already cured and discharged from hospital. It has seen 32 new infections since March 6.

The country has had 94 suspected cases with 27,180 being put under quarantine as of Saturday, according to its health ministry.