Over the weekend, the increasingly complex development of new COVID-19 outbreaks in Vietnam has prodded education authorities to shut down schools.

Saigon is among the latest cities and provinces to issue a shutdown order to local public schools. Tuoi Tre reports that at noon today, February 1, the Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee requested all education institutions in town to close starting from tomorrow. Classes are to continue with remote learning until February 5.

So far, Saigon has only recorded one case during the recent outbreak, a visitor from Hai Duong (Case 1,660), but a number of F1 contacts have lead to the disruption of schools and quarantine orders.

Yesterday, Hanoi authorities decided to extend the Tết holiday by a week for all students in the capital after many new community cases were confirmed. Schools will shutter from today, February 1, until further notice.

Among the latest infections is a third-grader at Xuan Phuong Elementary School in Nam Tu Liem District, whose father is Case 1,694. As a result, the entire class of 36, including the form teacher, have to undergo centralized quarantine for the rest of the Tết holiday.

At the time of writing, 23 cities and provinces have shut down school for Tết and to curb the spread of COVID-19. The list includes Saigon, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, Lai Chau, Long An, An Giang, Thai Nguyen, Binh Phuoc, Son La, Vinh Phuc, Tuyen Quang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Hoa Binh, Bac Kan, Gia Lai, Thai Binh, Bac Ninh and Thanh Hoa.

[Photo via SGTT]