18 March
Vietnam's Ministry of Health said on Tuesday evening that five more local people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 66.
The latest cases include two in the capital city of Hanoi and three in southern Ho Chi Minh City. The cases in Hanoi are two students aged 18 and 20, who studied in Britain and returned home on Sunday and Monday respectively.
The three cases in Ho Chi Minh City are a 36-year-old woman who traveled from Switzerland to Dubai and returned to Vietnam on March 12, a 28-year-old woman who was in close contact and has worked with two earlier confirmed patients, and a 21-year-old woman who traveled from the United States to Canada and was back to Vietnam on Monday, according to the ministry.
So far Vietnam has recorded 66 infected cases with 16 discharged from hospital after recovery. It has seen 50 new infections since March 6.
The country has 126 suspected cases with 31,659 being put under quarantine as of Tuesday, according to the health ministry.
Vietnam has advised all people to call off large gatherings and ordered them to wear face masks in public places.
The country said it will temporarily suspend visa issuance for all foreign nationals starting from Wednesday for 30 days.
Xinhua
