The Ministry of Health on January 22 confirmed two more COVID-19 cases, including an Indian expert coming to work in Vietnam. 

medical workers take samples for COVID-19 testing. (Illustrative image).

The expert, 52, boarded flight EK392 from India to Vietnam, transiting through Dubai of the United Arab Emirates.

He was quarantined as soon as the plane landed at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport on January 19.

A COVID test on January 21 showed the expert had carried the SARS-CoV-2 virus. He was immediately transferred to the General Hospital of Long An province for medical observation and treatment.

The other patient, a Vietnamese citizen of the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, returned to Vietnam from Japan on flight VJ8650 on January 20.

He tested positive on January 21 and was brought to HCM City’s Cu Chi field hospital for treatment.

As of 18.00hrs on January 22, Vietnam has detected 1,548 coronavirus cases, including 855 imported cases. Those returning from Russia make up one fourth of the imported cases.

To date 1,411 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery. Of the remaining cases, 31 have tested negative at least once.

The number of deaths caused by COVID-19 and related illnesses remains at 35.