(Bloomberg) --
Vietnam authorities extended the stay-at-home order covering most of the nation's southern region, including the commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, for two weeks.
The existing order for Ho Chi Minh City ends Aug. 1. The extension is directed at 19 localities and is part of the government's aggressive anti-virus measures to contain the nation's worst coronavirus outbreak, which began in late April.
The Thanh Nien newspaper reported that stay-home orders for 19 cities and provinces will also expire Aug. 1.
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The order, which bans residents from leaving home for most reasons, is also directed at Ho Chi Minh City's neighboring provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai -- home to numerous industrial parks used by global suppliers -- as well as the Mekong Delta's rice bowl.
Ho Chi Minh City, the neighboring provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai, and seven other southern provinces are extending 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfews by 14 more days from Aug. 2, the newspaper Tuoi Tre reported Sunday, citing information from local governments. Two other provinces are keeping the same curfew for another week from Monday.
The coastal city of Danang imposed a similar curfew for an undetermined time from July 31, according to the newspaper.
The country reported a total 150,060 virus cases and 1,306 deaths as of Saturday, with 97% of infections recorded from late April, according to the health ministry. Ho Chi Minh City accounts for about 63% of infections in the current outbreak.
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