Vietnam struggling with Delta variant outbreak after being hailed COVID-19 success story

Vietnam reported just 1,500 coronavirus cases last year, but the number of people infected has now soared past 230,000 — the vast majority recorded in the past two months. Key points: The Delta strain has spread rapidly in high-density areas, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City The Delta strain has spread rapidly in high-density areas, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam's former epicentre Da Nang has imposed a strict lockdown to slow the spread of the virus Vietnam's former epicentre Da Nang has imposed a strict lockdown to slow the spread of the virus Experts believe countries like Australia could do more to help in a global effort to control the pandemic Throughout 2020, the South-East Asian nation was hailed as having one of the best COVID-19 responses in the world. But Ms Tú Anh said the current lockdown in Da Nang was "super strict", and the situation in Ho Chi Minh City had shown people the dangers of the current wave. Thang*, who lives about 60km from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam's south, said the social welfare system was "really weak". Dr Pham said he believed countries "like Australia should and can do more to help countries like Vietnam in a global effort to control the pandemic".