Vietnam's local Covid cases rise by 659

Of the new cases, 544 were recorded in Ho Chi Minh City, including 369 in quarantine zones and areas under lockdown. 175 others have unknown sources of transmission.

Mekong Delta's Tien Giang Province registered 43 cases that are all associated with a previously confirmed patient.

The central province of Khanh Hoa reported 27 cases linked to an existing case.

Vinh Long Province in the delta got 26 cases that comprise 24 related to a cluster at a company in Long Ho District and two with unidentified infection sources.

The delta's An Giang Province registered eight cases, with six having direct contact with Covid-19 cases and the other two being contact traced.

The southern province of Binh Phuoc recorded five cases, with four associated with previously confirmed patients, one linked to Thu Duc wholesale market in HCMC, and two being contact traced.

The four cases in the central Phu Yen Province are all recorded in isolated areas.

Both cases in the central Thua Thien Hue and Nghe An provinces had made contact with Covid-19 patients prior to their positive test results.

Since April 27, when the new wave began in Vietnam, local infections have been recorded in 58 of the nation's 63 cities and provinces.

More than 4 million of the nation's 96-million population have been vaccinated against the new coronavirus and 277,447 have got two doses.