Vietnam confirms 21 more cases in new virus outbreak

Vietnam has confirmed 21 more coronavirus cases linked to three hospitals in central city of Da Nang, health ministry said Monday. country, which h lifted many restrictions after more than three months with local infections, w has 196 cases in new outbreak.

Fifteen of new cases were in Da Nang, Vietnam's most popular beach destination, while six ors were in neighboring Quang Nam province. All were patients or relatives of patients at three hospitals in Da Nang, where outbreak emerged, ministry said.

Vietnam h been widely praised for its success in controlling its initial outbreak of coronavirus, with reported cases of local transmission for 99 days. But nine days ago, a case was confirmed at a Da Nang hospital.

virus has w spre to six parts of country, including three large cities, forcing authorities to reimpose virus restrictions. Officials have confirmed three deaths, country's first from virus.

health ministry said 40% of new cases show symptoms.

“ asymptomatic cases are a danger for transmission in community,” acting health minister Nguyen Thanh Long said. “refore, we must t overlook any suspected cases.”

On Monday, army deployed a mobile lab truck to Da Nang to increase testing capacity in city.

During a government meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged all provinces to control outbreak in early August, calling it a “crucial time.”

“Each family must be a fortress and each citizen must be a warrior to keep outbreak from spreing widely in community,” Phuc said.

He urged residents to be vigilant to help control virus and ensure health security. But he said re shouldn't be a rush to close businesses because health should to be balanced with ecomic security.