Vietnam's Communist Party cuts short key congress amid Covid-19 outbreak; more cases reported in Hai Duong province

Medical workers in protective suits stand outside a quarantined building amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 29, 2021. - Reuters

HANOI, Jan 30 (Reuters): Vietnam's ruling Communist Party said it would cut short a key five-yearly congress on Saturday amid a new Covid-19 outbreak in several northern provinces that was detected earlier this week.

The congress will end on Monday, a day earlier than previously scheduled, state media reported. The reports did not say why the congress would end early.