COVID-19: Vietnam records 30 new community cases on Feb. 1
VOV.VN - Vietnam confirmed 31 new coronavirus cases on February 1, including 30 locally transmitted infections and an imported case, according to the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
As many as 17 community cases were detected in Hai Duong province, one of the country’s two biggest hotspots, and a gateway to Hanoi capital.
Notably, 16 of the new cases in Hai Duong were closely linked to the virus outbreak at Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. where the first case was detected on January 28. the remaining one case was reported in Ninh Giang district.
Elsewhere, Quang Ninh, the second biggest coronavirus hotspot registered 5 cases, Hanoi capital 4, Gia Lai in the Central Highlands 2, Bac Giang, another gateway to Hanoi, 1, and Binh Duong province in the south 1.
The virus has spread to 10 cities and provinces across the country since the virus recurred in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces, with nearly 300 cases confirmed, mostly in the two coronavirus hotspots.
The same day, the Ministry of Health announced a South African citizen has tested positive after entering Vietnam from the United Arab Emirates on January 17.
The foreign patient was put into isolation upon arriving at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat airport, posing no risk to the community.
Hanoi capital at higher risk
Hanoi capital alone has registered 19 cases and experts anticipate the number is likely to keep rising as secondary infection in the community takes place faster.
“The city is accelerating contact tracing to take all F1 cases (having close contact with COVID-19 patients) to concentrated quarantine facilities,” Hoang Duc Hanh, vice director of the Hanoi Department of Health at a working session with the Ministry of Health on Feb. 1.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long proposed that Hanoi impose social distancing on some places given the current rapid virus transmission rate.
“Hanoi must change its tactics, wearing face masks is mandatory, and those fail to observe the rule will be given a fine,” he suggested.
He admitted that “Hanoi is at higher risk from COVID-19 and the local administration must take prompt and absolute actions”.
Hanoi has banned bar, karaoke and dancing services as of February 1. It has also moved to close schools of all grades as of the same day to slow the spread of the virus.
