HANOI, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported 43 new cases of COVID-19 infection on Wednesday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 713, with eight deaths from the disease so far, according to the Ministry of Health.

Only one case has recently returned to Vietnam from abroad and being quarantined upon arrival while the rest were recorded domestically, according to the ministry.

Among the new cases, 20 people are patients, patients' caregivers or have worked at Da Nang Hospital in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang, while 14 cases have reportedly been in contact with COVID-19 patients that were linked to the hospital, according to the ministry.

Three more patients were given all-clear in Vietnam on Wednesday, raising the total cured cases to 381, while there are over 120,000 people being quarantined and monitored in the country, according to the ministry.

The central Quang Nam province's People's Committee on Wednesday decided to put more areas at high risk of disease transmission under lockdown, Vietnam News Agency reported, noting that part of Dong Phu town in the province will be under lockdown from Wednesday to August 19.

People not wearing face masks at public places in southern Ho Chi Minh City will face a maximum fine of 300,000 Vietnamese dong (13 U.S. dollars) starting from Wednesday. Such behavior will also bring a similar fine in the capital city of Hanoi, where people throwing used masks on streets and sidewalks can face a maximum fine of 7 million Vietnamese dong (about 304 U.S. dollars), according to the news agency.

The health ministry is working on the procedures of pooled testing for COVID-19, which can test more people with less time and resources. Enditem

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