A medical worker in Hanoi collecting samples from students at
the Xuan Phuong primary school, Nam Tu Liem District,
on January 31, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dinh. 

The Ministry of Health confirmed 30 new Covid-19 community transmissions and one imported case on Monday evening. 

The domestic cases, patients 1820-1849, are in Hanoi (four cases); the northern provinces of Hai Duong (17), Quang Ninh (five) and Bac Giang (one); the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai (two); and southern Binh Duong Province (1).

The new Covid-19 cases in Hanoi were detected in Me Linh, Nam Tu Liem and Dong Anh districts.

All five patients recorded in Quang Ninh were F1 cases, with two linked to "patient 1553", a 31-year-old employee at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province. The other F1 patients were related to Chi Linh Town of northern Hai Duong Province, the country's biggest Covid-19 hotspot.

Binh Duong has recorded the second patient, "Patient 1843", a 19-year-old female. She came in close contact with "patient 1644".

Of the 17 new patients in Hai Duong, those tagged from 1827-1842 are workers at Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. in Chi Linh and the remaining one was related to the outbreak in its Ninh Giang District.

Patients 1845 and 1846, one 31-year-old male and one 38-year-old female, in Gia Lai were related to the outbreak of Chi Linh.

Ho Chi Minh City recorded one imported case, "patient 1850", a 24-year-old foreign expert from South Africa.

Earlier on Monday, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City announced that "patient 1660" in Hai Duong contracted the U.K. Covid-19 variant, which is considered 70 percent more contagious than previous strains, which possibly caused the huge surge in cases in the northern province.

Vietnam has recorded a total of 270 community transmissions in 10 provinces since its latest outbreak began last Thursday. Hai Duong topped the list with 205 cases, followed by Quang Ninh (30), Hanoi (19), Gia Lai (6), Bac Ninh (3), Hoa Binh (2), Binh Duong (2) and HCMC and Hai Phong have one each.

Authorities of 26 localities nationwide have allowed students to begin their Tet break early or switch to online classes starting Tuesday.

Hanoi authorities on Monday afternoon decided to shut down game and internet service outlets in the city as measures to contain the spreading novel coronavirus from February 2. Previously, on Sunday they announced all bars, karaoke parlors, and discotheques must close and residents have to avoid 'non-essential' gatherings from February 1.

Vietnam has recorded 1,850 cases, with 393 currently active. A total of more 26,000 people are being quarantined at hospitals, centralized facilities and at home.

AstraZeneca PLC on Monday signed a deal to supply Vietnam 30 million doses in the first half of this year for domestic inoculation. No further details on the price per dose and when the first batch of vaccine will be delivered. The Health Ministry has stepped up negotiations with Pfizer, Moderna and other vaccine manufacturers.