Vietnam to extend lockdown throughout southern region on Monday (Aug 2) as Covid-19 cases continue to soar

Local residents practice social distancing while waiting to receive the AstraZeneca Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine at Trung Vuong Secondary School in Hanoi on July 30, 2021. - AFP

HANOI, July 31 (Reuters): Vietnam will from Monday (Aug 2) extend strict curbs on movement in its business hub Ho Chi Minh City and another 18 cities and provinces throughout its south for another two weeks to help combat its worst Covid-19 outbreak, the government said.

After successfully containing the virus for much of the pandemic, Vietnam is facing a rapid spread of infections that has led to movement restrictions in around one-third of the country. It has registered a total of 145,000 cases and 1,306 deaths, 85% of which were recorded over the past month.