Dangerous variants of COVID-19 detected in HCMC

• COVID-19: Mutated variants B.1.1.7 & B.1.617.2 found in Da Nang
• Indian variant detected in seven cases linked to outbreak in Hanoi

Nguyen Tan Binh, Director of the HCMC Health Department, said results of genetic analyses revealed that patient 4780 in District 3 is infected with the COVID-19 variant from the UK while patient 4583 in District 7 and patient 4514 in Thu Duc are infected with the variant from India.

Chairman of the HCMC Municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said the city is facing complicated development of the pandemic. The city has recorded 2 community infection chains, 5 new locally infected cases after 20 days without new cases.

The two variants are considered to be more infectious, dangerous and harder to cure. The city’s leaders asked lower-level authorities to strictly follow the heath guidance and temporarily suspend operation of a number of businesses and services in the city to prevent and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health declaration will be compulsory for anyone visiting workplaces in the city, beginning on May 25. All agencies, units and companies in the city are required to establish COVID-19 checking teams.