Vietnam coronavirus outbreak spreads to Hanoi; new strains likely behind spike in Malaysia cases

Anti-virus measures were stepped up in the capital, where Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party is having its leadership congress

A Malaysian virologist says the country may have missed cases caused by the variants, while Singapore will pay vaccine recipients who have side-effects

9-MIN READ9-MIN

Health workers wearing protective suits are seen at a temporary coronavirus swabbing counter at the National Convention Centre, the venue for the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:15am, 29 Jan 2021Updated: 7:37pm, 29 Jan 2021

Vietnam reported 53 new Covid-19 infections early on Friday as the country’s first outbreak for nearly two months spread to Hanoi, the capital, where the ruling Communist Party is currently holding its key five-yearly congress.

Of the new cases, 47 were detected in Hai Duong province, the epicentre of the outbreak, the government said in a statement on its website.

The remaining were found in nearby Haiphong city and Quang Ninh, Hanoi and Bac Ninh provinces, it said, adding that 149 people have tested positive to the virus in the outbreak that began on Thursday.

One of the first two cases recorded on Thursday was exposed to an individual who had tested positive in Japan for the more contagious UK variant. The health ministry said it was still analysing gene sequences to determine if the new patients had contracted the new variant.

The total number of cases recorded since the coronavirus was first detected in Vietnam a year ago stands at 1,695, including imported cases, with 35 deaths.

The ministry said the case in Hanoi is linked to an airport worker in Quang Ninh province who tested positive on Thursday along with 83 others, the first locally transmitted cases in the country for 55 days and the biggest single-day outbreak so far.