Despite the worsening situation of COVID-19, most schools in Vietnam's 63 provincial-level localities start to reopen.

▲A Vietnamese high school student takes a COVID-19 test before attending the opening ceremony of the new school year in southern Vietnam's An Giang province, Sept. 5, 2021. (VNA via Xinhua)

HANOI, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Over two-thirds of Vietnam's 63 provincial-level localities started their new school year on Sunday amid the worst ever wave of COVID-19 infections in the country, Vietnam News Agency reported.

▲Primary school students have their temperature taken before entering school in northern Vietnam's Yen Bai province, Sept. 5, 2021. (VNA via Xinhua)

The school opening ceremonies were simplified due to COVID-19 restrictions, as 20 localities had to gather students online for the ceremonies.

Another 13 localities chose to postpone their back-to-school events while six others, including the current COVID-19 hotspot Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, canceled the event, the news agency reported.

▲A Vietnamese primary school teacher attends the opening ceremony of the new school year via video link in Vinh Phuc province, Vietnam, Sept. 5, 2021. (VNA via Xinhua)

Vietnam has been fighting its worst wave of COVID-19 infections since late April with over 500,000 cases and 12,700 deaths recorded as of Saturday, according to the country's Ministry of Health.

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