HCMC, Da Nang, Yen Bai are among the latest localities to crack down on recreational activities and public gatherings

Several countries have halted the use of Oxford's AstraZenece vaccine, due to cases of blood clots that was suspected to be caused by the vaccine, further complicating a vaccination effort that was already lagging across the region.

Australian public broadcast, SBS, in Australia said on Friday that it would suspend Chinese state media channels, CGTN and CCTV.