Health

Singapore, Vietnam detect Indian coronavirus variant, tighten restrictions

Bangkok, May 4 (EFE).- Singapore and Vietnam have tightened safety measures after a Covid-19 variant first detected in India was recorded amid a resurgence in infection in both countries.

The Vietnamese government said in a statement it would extend the 14-day quarantine period for all international travelers, giving no further details about how long the measure would be in place.

Authorities in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi ordered the closure of all schools to stem the spread of new infections.

The new virus variant is prompting health officials to fear an increase in the number of cases, as it left India’s health system on the point of collapse in recent weeks with a death toll exceeding 222,000.

On Thursday, the Vietnamese Health Ministry detected four people infected with the Indian variant, as well as another patient who still tested positive after spending 14 days in quarantine.

Vietnam, which has recorded only 2,946 and 37 deaths since the start of the pandemic, has reported 120 infections in the past six days, according to official figures.

Singapore, recorded over 61,000 cases and 31 deaths when the pandemic broke out last year, said it registered 60 infections last week, including 10 cases with the Indian variant, seven with the Brazilian, and one with the British.

Last month, Singapore banned the entry of visitors who have been to India within the last 14 days, a measure that was extended to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

grc/smq/jt

Related Articles

Back to top button