Outbreak in Vietnam linked to the more contagious UK variant of Covid-19

The more contagious UK variant of Covid-19 is linked to a new outbreak in Vietnam with 276 people infected in 10 provinces and cities, according to the country’s health minister. The new cases are a major uptick for Vietnam, which has only recorded 1,850 cases and 35 coronavirus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic last year.

Vietnam had its first outbreak in nearly 2 months on January 28, setting a daily record of 83 new infections. The cluster where the virus re-emerged last week in northern province Hai Duong is now under control, according to health minister Nguyen Thanh Long.

“Gene sequencing showed that 12 of 276 newly detected patients are positive with the UK variant, although the source of this outbreak remains unknown… We need to scrupulously follow mask-wearing regulations.”

Vietnam health officials are now rolling out mass testing to contain the outbreak. In Hanoi, the city will upgrade testing capacity to 40,000 tests per day, Nguyen says.

The Vietnam government approved the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. State media reports that the first batch of 50,000 doses are expected to arrive by next month.

SOURCE: Reuters