The latest cases included 43 locally-transmitted cases and 21 imported ones.

All the local cases were recorded in Hai Duong Province - the epicenter of Viet Nam’s third wave of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the imported cases comprised five foreign experts from China (two), the Republic of Korea (one), and the Philippines (two). The rest were 16 Vietnamese nationals returning home via Ha Tien and Moc Bai International Border Gates.

As of late March 7, Viet Nam confirmed 1,585 locally transmitted cases, including 892 cases since the resurgence from January 27.

Thirteen localities have been hit by the third wave of COVID-19, namely Hai Duong (708 cases), Quang Ninh (61), HCMC (36), Ha Noi (34), Gia Lai (27), Binh Duong (six), Bac Ninh (five), Dien Bien (three), Hoa Binh (two), Bac Giang (two), Hung Yen (three), Hai Phong (four), and Ha Giang (one).

Ten out of the above 13 localities have gone 21 days with zero new cases in the community, including Hoa Binh, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Binh Duong, Hung Yen, Bac Giang, Gia Lai, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, and HCMC. 

The country began COVID-19 vaccination on March 8, 2021, using recently-imported AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.  

From March 5, people aged from 18-59 and residing in Ha Noi registered for human trials of Viet Nam’s second homegrown COVID-19 vaccine COVIVAC.

National flag carrier Viet Nam Airlines resumed flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 3 when the airport was allowed to reopen after local COVID-19 outbreaks were put under control.

From midnight on March 3, the COVID-19 lockdowns in Chi Linh city and Cam Giang district in the northern province of Hai Duong were lifted and province-wide social distancing ended after 15 days.

More than 30 million smartphone users had downloaded Bluezone, a locally-developed app that helps determine if a person has come in contact with a COVID-19 patient, as of 11:30 am on March 2.

To live safely with the pandemic, people should strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration).