The move follows the confirmation of three COVID-19 cases in the city.

Vietnam Plus reports that strict social distancing regulations went into effect from midnight last night in Hai Duong, a city of about 500,000 people east of Hanoi.

For the next 15 days, residents are advised to stay at home and only go out for essential needs, while non-essential businesses have been closed and public gatherings of more than two people are banned. Production facilities can remain open, but they must follow COVID-19 health regulations.

This stems from the announcement of three new coronavirus cases in the city this morning, all of whom work at a local restaurant with Patient 867, who was confirmed previously. The dormitory of Hai Duong University is being used to quarantine people who came into contact with the four individuals, and further contact tracing is underway.

Patient 867 was announced on August 12, and it is unclear whether the individual has any connection to Da Nang, the center of Vietnam's resurgent virus outbreak.

[Photo via VPUBND]