A man rides scooter on a quiet street in Vung Tau, Vietnam, on July 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

       HANOI (Kyodo) -- Vietnam's capital Hanoi toughened coronavirus restrictions on people's movements on Monday, state media reported, with residents urged to stay at home and banned from gathering in groups of more than five.

       Once touted widely for successfully containing the pandemic, the country has seen surging cases since late April that are blamed on the spread of more transmissible variants. It logged 5,926 infections on Sunday, its highest daily tally.

       While outbreaks in the country's south, such as Ho Chi Minh City, remain most serious, Hanoi, which is located in the country's north, has also seen untraceable cases emerge.

       The latest move by Hanoi's municipal authorities follows existing restrictions placed on such venues as restaurants. The ban on gatherings of over five people does not apply to those at workplaces, schools or hospitals.

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