Hospitals in HCM City are strengthening preventive measures against COVID-19 after 55 employees, mostly in administrative departments, at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases tested positive for coronavirus. 

The health ministry on Monday evening confirmed a further 75 new local COVID-19 infections and five imported cases in six localities, bringing the daily increase to 272.

Health authorities on Monday afternoon reported two deaths relating to COVID-19 – two female patients with critical underlying health conditions.

Vinh City Police in the central province of Nghệ An on Monday morning launched criminal proceedings against a 22-year-old hairdresser who was confirmed to have COVID-19 on the same day but did not co-operate with authorities when providing her personal contact and travelling history.

Vietnamese children might be enjoying their early summer holiday, but parents are concerned about the safety of their kids while they go about their daily business. 

HCM City Party Secretary Nguyễn Văn Nên said the city has used many measures and focused resources on battling the outbreaks but the cases are still increasing while the direct contacts to be quarantined keep going up, and not to mention the 'unknown' number of 'silent transmission' in the community taking place right now.

Many universities in HCM City have changed enrollment plans for the upcoming academic year because of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.