The Ministry of Health announced five new coronavirus patients on August 8 morning, with three of them closely linked to Da Nang, the epicenter of the latest COVID-19 outbreak.

Extensive testing has been accelerated in high-risk localities such as Hanoi
and Ho Chi Minh City  to early detect and quarantine suspect cases

Hanoi reported one case that is a 42-year-old man living in the outlying district of Hoai Duc. He travelled to Da Nang, a famous tourist destination in central Vietnam, together with his family in mid-July.

Upon returning to Hanoi, he displayed virus symptoms on August 3 and was admitted to Hospital of Tropical Diseases No2 three days later. He tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on August 7. 

This is the fifth coronavirus patient in the capital city since the fresh outbreak occurred in Vietnam two weeks ago. 

Another two new coronavirus cases come from Quang Ngai province. Both had close contact with COVID-19 patients at Da Nang hospital. 

Meanwhile, south-central Khanh Hoa province confirmed two imported cases who returned from Mexico transiting through Japan. 

They arrived at Cam Ranh International Airport on August 5 and were transferred to a concentrated quarantine camp at Nha Trang University. 

They were tested on August 6 and the results proved the following day both had carried the virus. 

As of August 8 morning, Vietnam has recorded 789 coronavirus cases, of which 316 returned from epidemic hit countries worldwide. 

Vietnam has also confirmed 333 cases since the latest outbreak was reported in Da Nang two week ago. Ten of them have died. 

As the new virus strain was said to spread very quickly, the Ministry of Health on August 7 issued another urgent telegram, calling cities and provinces nationwide to step up contact tracing and quarantine suspect cases. 

At a meeting with permanent Cabinet members on August 7, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered localities to take more drastic actions to prevent the spread of the virus as the epidemic is expected to reach its peak in the following 10 days.