Vietnam official says should prepare for scenario of 30,000 coronavirus cases - state TV

FILE PHOTO: A health worker takes a sample for a coronavirus test from a journalist in preparation for the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which began on January 25, in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 18, 2021. REUTERS/Kham/File Photo

Vietnam should prepare for a scenario of up to 30,000 COVID-19 cases, state television said, citing the coronavirus taskforce chief, after the country reported its biggest daily number of new infections on Thursday and ended a 55-day run without a local case.

Deputy Prime Minister and taskforce head Vu Duc Dam said the two northern provinces where 83 cases were found should put measures in place to contain the spread, speed up contact-tracing and prepare for the scenario of 30,000 cases, state broadcaster VTV reported.

FILE PHOTO: A medical specialist wearing a protective suit holds testing samples of travellers who have returned from Da Nang, at a rapid testing center for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hanoi, Vietnam August 8, 2020. REUTERS/Kham

(This story corrects attribution in headline and clarifies in first paragraph that official is referring to a scenario)

(Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Kevin Liffey)