The Ministry of Health on January 21 confirmed two more fresh imported cases of COVID-19 from the US, taking the total number of infections to 1,546.

The new cases are Vietnamese citizens who entered Cam Ranh Airport from the US on flight VN441 and transited in the Republic of Korea.

They were immediately quarantined upon entering the nation and had their samples taken in the south central province of Phu Yen.

The patients are currently put into isolation to undergo treatment at Phu Yen General Hospital after their test results came back positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on January 20.

The same day, five more coronavirus patients were declared free from the coronavirus, taking the total number of recoveries to 1,411. The number of deaths related to the disease stays at 35.

Among the patients receiving treatment across the country, 31 tested negative for the virus at least one, with the majority recording negative results.

As of January 15, the national infection tally rose to 1,546, with locally transmitted cases accounting for 693, whilst imported cases registered 853, with each of these being immediately put into quarantine upon arrival.

More than 18,600 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entered Vietnam from pandemic-hit regions are currently isolated nationwide.