Vietnam reported 175 Covid-19 cases on May 19, recording the three-digit infections for six consecutive days.

Military personnel ready to support Bac Giang. Photo: Military Medical University

The newly-infected cases have driven the total caseload to 4,675, including 1,648 in the ongoing coronavirus outbreak that has been sweeping the country for three weeks.

Bac Giang remained the hardest-hit locality by Covid-19 with 98 cases on May 19, totaling 605 in the fresh outbreak, followed by Bac Ninh 353, Hanoi 174, and Danang 146.

On the same day, Samkwang Vina Co., Ltd had first workers tested positive for the virus. The company is located in Quang Chau Industrial Park that has been suspended for two days.

Meanwhile, more than 40 more infections have been detected at Hosiden Vietnam Co., Ltd, one of the most affected companies in terms of virus infections in Bac Giang. The local authorities have demanded strict quarantine of all 4,500 Hosiden workers to restrain the virus transmission.

Vietnam's daily Covid-19 infections. Source: MOH. Chart: Minh Vu

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son, who is assigned to stay in Bac Giang to direct the fight there, predicted that the infections in Bac Giang would be on the rise. 

To support the treatment in the hotspots, some military medical hospitals have built two makeshift hospitals with a capacity of 500 beds each in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh.

On May 19, Bac Giang placed under lockdown three districts of Yen Dung, Lang Giang, and Luc Nam with around 554,000 people and Bac Giang City of more than 200,000 residents.

Bac Ninh, the neighboring province of Hanoi, put on lockdown Yen Phong district which houses Samsung Electronics Vietnam (SEV) for three days and extend the isolation if needed.

On the same day, Danang decided to test all residents while Ho Chi Minh City confirmed the second case after 22 days.