Virus cases rise in Iceland, UK, Vietnam

Health authorities in Iceland, Vietnam and the United Kingdom have registered an increase in coronavirus cases.

Iceland has recorded more than 100 new coronavirus infections daily for four days running, data from health authorities showed on Friday.

The amount may sound small compared to other countries but for the North Atlantic island of 360,000 people, it is worryingly big.

The domestic 14-day incidence of infection per 100,000 people, which distinguishes Icelanders from cases detected in incoming travellers, has risen to 280.6.

For months the figure had been in the low double-digits.

The 14-day incidence is now approaching the peak hit in October 2020.

At that time, it had been around 292 cases per 100,000 people.

Before this stretch, a day with more than 100 new infections had occurred in Iceland only twice before, once in March and once in October 2020, according to radio station RUV.

Iceland had lifted all restrictions at the end of June after 15 months of distancing, mask wearing and other measures.

But because of the rising number of infections, some restrictions were reintroduced a few days ago.

Pubs and clubs must close from midnight and events are capped at 200 participants.

In addition, people are again to keep at least 1 meter distance and wear face masks indoors.

In the UK, the statistics office says the rate of coronavirus infections has increased in most of the country although the rise may be starting to level off in England.

The Office for National Statistics estimates that 1 in 65 people in England had the virus in the week to July 24, up from 1 in 75 the week before.

Infection rates also rose in Wales and Northern Ireland but declined in Scotland.

The numbers reflect the first few days after remaining restrictions, including mandatory mask-wearing, were lifted in England on July 19.

Infection rates were highest among high school students and young adults, who are less likely to be vaccinated.

The data is based on a randomised sample of people across the country.

Separate figures that record confirmed positive tests each day suggest infections have recently been falling.

Duncan Cook from the statistics office says, "there are possible signs that the rate of increase may have slowed" in England.

But it is too early to say "whether the current wave of infections is stabilising or not".

Vietnam, which had impressed the world by not recording even a single coronavirus death during the first six months of the pandemic, on Friday crossed the 1000 death mark as it struggles to overcome its worst surge of the disease.

According to the data released by the health ministry on Friday, 1022 people have died of the disease so far while more than 133,000 have been infected.

Until May 14, only 35 coronavirus-linked deaths and 3800 infections had been reported in the country.

The continuous upsurge in cases - as part of an outbreak that began in April - has led to the health ministry on Friday ordering private hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients, who were only being treated in government facilities so far.

The ministry said that the coronavirus pandemic was developing in a very "complicated" manner and had worsened in many cities and provinces.

Authorities have sought to make about 20,000 beds available in 228 private hospitals for coronavirus patients.

Vietnam's biggest metro, Ho Chi Minh City, has become the epicentre of the current outbreak and has been under strict lockdown for three weeks.

with EFE and AP