Vietnam locks down second city after new virus case

Vietnam placed a second city into lockdown on Monday as the country reported one more case of COVID-19, the health ministry said.

According to the ministry, Ban Me Thuot will go into lockdown after three cases of coronavirus were confirmed on Sunday in the capital city of Dak Lak province in the central highland.

All three infections in the city relate to Da Nang, the epicenter of the renewed outbreak.

In the city, people are required to stay at home except for when they need to go out for essential supplies.

Non-essential businesses are closed and public events, including religious gatherings have been banned during the two week lockdown.

There have been two confirmed cases in Hanoi since this fresh outbreak started last week. Both people came back from Da Nang.

Since last week there have been 205 COVID-19 cases reported, 30 of which are imported cases, six from local community transmission, and the rest from the cluster of Da Nang hospital.

The city is planning to move all patients out of the hospital to allow the entire premises to be disinfected.

There have been six coronavirus related deaths so far in Vietnam. The first death was only reported on Friday.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam is 621.

Meanwhile, an indoor sport auditorium in Da Nang is being converted into a one thousand bed makeshift hospital to treat COVID-19 patients.