By Monday evening, Vietnam had recorded 642 Covid-19 cases, including 374 discharged from hospital after their recovery, accounting for 60% and six deaths, equal to 1%.

Among those, 21 are battling worsened conditions, including 10 in grave condition who are now using ventilators and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with five at Hue Central Hospital, four at Danang Hospital and one at Danang Lung and Respiratory Diseases Hospital.

Most of those in serious condition are elderly and have other complicated diseases. The patients are monitored through an online management and administration centre at the Department for Medical Examination and Treatment.

Vietnam confirmed six deaths related to Covid-19 by Monday morning, including five from Danang City and one from Quang Nam. They all had pre-existing conditions such as heart and kidney problems.

Managing Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that Vietnam was being ravaged by a new strain of Covid-19 which has a higher infection rate than the strain experienced in the first six months of this year.

Roughly 1.4 million people visited the central tourism city of Danang which has suffered a Covid-19 outbreak over the past month.

Long urged localities to take drastic measures to fight against the pandemic, emphasising that it was necessary to expand Covid-19 tests which are covered by health insurance.