Vietnam reports 34 new COVID-19 cases, speeds up vaccine procurement

HANOI: Vietnam reported 34 new COVID-19 infections early on Saturday in its latest coronavirus outbreak, and seeks to accelerate procurement of vaccines.

Of the new cases, 32 were detected in Hai Duong province, the epicentre, and two in neighbouring Quang Ninh province, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. It added that the country has recorded more than 1,700 cases since the disease was detected a year ago, including 873 locally transmitted infections.

The new outbreak that began on Thursday has also spread to Hanoi, where the ruling Communist party is holding its five-yearly congress.

Previously, Vietnam said it was in talks to procure 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca Plc . Late on Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam must have a vaccine within the first quarter.

Phuc was speaking at a meeting on the sidelines of the congress, which is expected to select a new leadership in the coming days

The port city of Haiphong, where a case linked to the new outbreak has been detected, said it would separately seek to secure 2 million vaccine dozes for the city's population.