Social distancing measures have been reinstated in the northern province of Hai Duong, Vietnam’s largest COVID-19 epicenter at present, for 15 days starting Tuesday to contain the rapid spread of the disease in the locality.

The social distancing drive started at 0:00 on February 16 and will last for 15 days, Pham Xuan Thang, secretary of the provincial Party Committee, said at a meeting on Monday.

During this period, all residents are required to stay home and can only go outside to buy food, supplies, medicine, and other essential goods and services, or to seek medical examinations and treatment.

People are also allowed to leave their homes to go to work at factories, manufacturing establishments, businesses, and essential services.

Residents must wear face masks when leaving their houses and keep a two-meter distance from one another, while the gathering of more than two people outside public offices, schools, and hospitals is forbidden.

Heads of enterprises, production establishments, and businesses are responsible for applying COVID-19 prevention and control measures at their facilities to ensure the health and safety of workers and employees.

All passenger transport services are also required to stop, except for special cases due to public duties and supply of food and necessities.

Hai Duong is currently the biggest COVID-19 hotspot in Vietnam, with 501 community-based cases recorded since a new wave of infections hit the country in late January.

COVID-19 has struck 11 out of 12 districts, cities, and towns in Hai Duong Province.

As of Tuesday morning, Vietnam has documented 2,271 COVID-19 cases, with 1,541 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

A total of 679 local infections have been detected in 13 provinces and cities since January 27.

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