Vietnam reports first Covid-19 cases since April

PanARMENIAN.Net - Vietnam is evacuating 80,000 people from the central city of Danang and reimposing disease-prevention measures after 15 local coronavirus cases were detected, the first to be recorded in the country for more than three months, The Guardian reports.

Life had returned to normal for many in the country, which had been praised widely for taking quick action to contain Covid-19 and was on the brink of reaching 100 days without any new local infections. However, a 57-year-old man was confirmed to have tested positive, in the first community infection since April.

Social distancing measures have been introduced indefinitely across Danang, a tourist hotspot, with all religious, sports and cultural events suspended. Wearing masks in public places in the city is now compulsory and gatherings of more than 30 people at public places are banned, the government has said.

The city’s borders were also shut on Monday, July 27 to inbound domestic tourists, while the authorities said 80,000 people, mostly tourists, would be evacuated through domestic flights to 11 Vietnamese cities. The evacuation will take at least four days, and all people returning from Danang will be required to stay at home for 14 days.

Most foreign travellers are currently banned from entering Vietnam, and anyone who does arrive must stay in quarantine facilities.