HCMC – The Ministry of Health this evening, March 17, confirmed 178,112 fresh cases of Covid-19, with all but three being locally infected cases, declining 2,443 cases day-on-day. Also, two northern provinces updated over 180,000 cases detected earlier to the national Covid monitoring system.

The new infections were detected in all 63 provinces and cities in the country. The source of transmission of more than 124,000 cases remains unknown. The capital city of Hanoi again reported the most cases, at 25,311. The north-central province of Nghe An came second with 10,511 cases, followed by Lao Cai with 9,574 cases, and Phu Tho with 7,767 cases. Bac Ninh, Lang Son, Hai Duong were among the 15 localities that reported over 3,000 cases each. In the day, the health authorities of Vinh Phuc and Hai Duong registered to add 24,975 cases and 155,878 cases, respectively, to the national Covid monitoring system. Besides, the country today reported 76 more Covid deaths, bringing its death toll linked to the coronavirus to 41,683 up to now. In related news, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has allowed non-essential services to resume operations. Specifically, discos, bars, karaoke lounges, massage parlors, internet and game shops in localities at high risk of Covid transmission in the province can reopen starting tomorrow, March 18, but must practice Covid-safe measures, according to the provincial government’s dispatch issued yesterday on the relaxation of anti-Covid measures to safely and flexibly adapt to Covid. In areas at extremely high risk of transmission, local authorities were told to issue guidelines on how to resume the non-essential services based on the Covid situation in their areas to ensure Covid safety.