The Sheraton hotel in HCM City, where a chef connected to the newly detected cluster involving a Christian sect is working, was put under lockdown on Thursday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hương

HÀ NỘI — HCM City health authorities on Thursday morning said they had detected 25 COVID-19 infections connected to the cluster involving a Christian church in Ward 3, Gò Vấp District.

So far, 19 of the cases are identified as members of the Revival Ekklesia Mission, two are direct contacts with family members of the church's members and three are people who work at the same building with a suspected case in Ward 10, Phú Nhuận District, and another case in District 12.

Further confirmation tests will be carried out to confirm these cases.

A total of 27 people involved in the sect have been identified in seven districts throughout the city.

The cluster was found after three people with COVID-19-like symptoms went to have health examinations at Gia Định People’s Hospital on Wednesday, and within the night, 127 people were tested and further tests are being conducted as more cases are found.

Alley 415 in Ward 3, Gò Vấp District, HCM City, where the Revival Ekklesia Mission operates has been locked down. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM City’s health authorities noted the pathogen might have been present in the community so contact tracing needs to be swift and effective.

The source of infection is not yet known.

Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, is holding an emergency meeting with HCM City's authorities regarding the developing cluster. — VNS