Two people in Vietnam died of coronavirus on May 20 while 20 others are in critical condition, according to the Ministry of Health.

Testing for SARS-CoV-2 at a hospital in Bac Giang. Photo: Baobacgiang

The deaths, who are the 38th and 39th Covid-19 dead victims, suffered some underlying diseases namely liver cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.

Meanwhile, at least 20 critical patients receive ventilation and three others are on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Currently, the country has more than 1,800 patients being treated at 72 clinic institutes nationwide.

On May 20, Vietnam posted 114 infections, including 63 in Bac Giang and 29 in Bac Ninh hotspots, driving up the country’s tally to 4,789.

On the same day, the northern province of Ninh Binh which is home to UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Trang An Landscape Complex, reported the first cases, lifting up the number of affected cities and provinces to 30.

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

As Bac Giang and Bac Ninh house dozens of industrial parks with the operations of many multinationals, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said the two provinces need to check the safety in each company to allow working resumption.

The local governments need to make efforts to avoid impact on those working as suppliers for multinational companies like Samsung, Dam told local authorities at a meeting on May 20.

The Bac Giang province has suspended four industrial parks. It is home to 13 suppliers of Samsung and Apple Inc. suppliers Foxconn and Luxshare.