Social distancing in effect as caseload keeps rising in Bac Giang hotspot

The social distancing order took effect as of 03.00pm on May 19 and lasts until further notice.

Bac Giang province, the country’s largest coronavirus hotspot, has recorded 540 community cases, about one third of the national tally, since the virus recurred in Vietnam in late April.

It detected an additional 78 cases on May 19 evening and a further 13 cases on May 20 morning, according to the data from the Ministry of Health.

Most of the cases were diagnosed at Hosiden Vietnam Co. Ltd., an electronic parts supplier, in Quang Chau industrial park (IP) and other IPs in the province.

One day earlier, Bac Giang province also applied the social distancing order in three of its districts in an effort to halt the spread of the virus.

Besides 13 more cases recorded in Bac Giang on May morning, the MoH also announced eight cases in Bac Ninh, the country’s second coronavirus hotspot, five cases in Hai Duong, two cases in Ninh Binh, and one case each in Lang Son and Thanh Hoa.

The newly-detected cases were in quarantine or lockdown areas, the MoH said in COVID-19 update on May 20 morning.

Elsewhere, the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming complicated in Ho Chi Minh City which recorded cluster of infections on May 19 closely linked to a COVID-19 patient at block of apartments Sunview Town.

Scientists have completed genome sequencing of a COVID-19 case in Ho Chi Minh City and found the patient had carried the mutated variant B.1.617.2 which was first found in India.

Vietnam has confirmed nearly 1,700 community cases in 28 cities and provinces nationwide since the virus recurred on April 28.