COVID-19 UPDATE: Bac Giang remains largest hotspot as cases surge

The northern province of Bac Giang which is close to Hanoi capital, recorded a further 63 out of 85 community infections confirmed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) at noon on May 18.
  • 19 more COVID-19 cases confirmed at quarantine facilities
  • Vietnam documents 27 more cases of domestic transmission
Taking nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing at an industrial park in Bac Giang.
Taking nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing at an industrial park in Bac Giang.

The new patients tested positive after having close contact with COVID-19 patients, the MoH said in its noon bulletin update.

They were all detected at Quang Chau, Van Trung and Dinh Tram industrial parks in Bac Giang.

Bac Giang, a gateway to Hanoi capital, has recorded nearly 500 locally transmitted cases, mostly at industrial parks, since the virus recurred in Vietnam in late April.   

The provincial administration on May 17 decided to temporarily suspend operations of Quang Chau, Van Trung, Dinh Tram, and Song Khe-Noi Hoang industrial parks. They also moved to impose social distancing on several localities in the province in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Elsewhere, six more cases were recorded in Hanoi, four in Dien Bien, three in Bac Ninh, three in Hai Duong, two in Da Nang, one each in Hai Phong, Hung Yen amd Quang Nam.

One more case was also reported at the K Cancer Hospital No2 in Hanoi.

The MoH also confirmed an imported case in its noon bulletin. The 67-year-old man of the Republic of Korea entered Vietnam on May 16 and tested positive on the following day.

Vietnam has so far recorded 4,464 COVID-19 cases, including 2,668 recoveries and 37 fatalities.

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