Vietnam to extend movement restrictions as coronavirus cases hit record high

HANOI, July 11 (Reuters) – Vietnam will impose movement restrictions on the city of Can Tho in the Mekong Delta for 14 days from Monday, the government said on Sunday, as the South Asian country Is fighting its worst pandemic epidemic.

The city of 1.23 million people in the far south reported seven infections in the past week, the government said in a statement.

After successfully containing the disease for much of the pandemic, Vietnam has faced a more stubborn epidemic since the end of April, with daily infections reaching record levels.

The Health Ministry reported 1,953 new infections on Sunday, the seventh consecutive day of more than 1,000 cases, and surpassing Saturday’s record of 1,853. Most of the cases were recorded in Ho Chi Minh City, the epicenter of the country’s epidemic.

Vietnam has recorded a total of 29,816 infections and 116 deaths – very low numbers compared to some European countries, India and the United States.

The country last week began imposing travel restrictions in major cities, including the economic hub of Ho Chi Minh and the capital Hanoi.

Editing by Hugh Lawson, London Publishing Office

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.