JUNE 3: Vietnam’s Covid-19 infections surpass 8,000

The number of people tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Vietnam reached 8,063, including 49 deaths.

Boosting massive testing in Bac Giang epicenter. Photo: CDC Bac Giang

More than half of the total cases are from the fresh outbreak that flared up in late April.

On June 3, the country reported 231 cases, marking the 10th consecutive day having more than 200 cases per day.

So far, the northern province of Bac Giang, which is home to Apple’s main assembler Foxconn and more than 10 suppliers of Samsung Electronics Vietnam (SEV), has topped localities for the highest number of confirmed cases with 2,678 detected in the past month.

Bac Ninh that houses SEV and dozens of its affiliates has ranked second in terms of infections (951), followed by Hanoi (428) and Ho Chi Minh City (288).

With an aim to smooth the global supply chain by facilitating the manufacturing sector, Vietnam will shorten quarantine period to one week instead of three for vaccinated visitors.

Vietnam has imposed the 21-day quarantine period to all incoming people and first-generation contacts of confirmed cases (F1) since May 5.

For vaccinated visitors, the MoH considers one-week centralized quarantine and one more week of home quarantine if they test negative for the SARS-CoV-2 twice in the first week.

Vietnam's Covid-19 infections. Source: MoH. Chart: Minh Vu

On June 3, Hanoi built plans for increasing quarantine capacity to 40,000 people with the new facilities located in outlying districts. In addition, the local government will tighten control over centralized quarantine to ensure no infection among quarantined people, according to a document signed by Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh.

In another move, Hanoi decided to waive an upcoming exam for the 9th school graders who tested positive for Covid-19 and first-generation contacts of the confirm cases (F1).

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City continued confirming new infections mostly linked to Christian group Revival Ekklesia Mission. According to Prof. Nguyen Tan Binh, director of the HCM City’s Department of Health, 40 out of 55 members of the group are confirmed cases. Seriously, the group-related infections have been found in several southern provinces after the first cases detected on May 26.

At a meeting with the city’s authorities on June 2, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam asked the local government to launch autodial to take care of residents and timely find those with symptoms of Covid-19.

The deputy PM also warned HCMC of infection in industrial parks and asked them to conduct massive testing in high risk areas.