Patients contracting the novel coronavirus(nCoV) will receive free treatment, the Ministry of Health Social said Wendesday. 

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In addition, those who are suspected of infecting the virus will also be free of nCoV test charges, said head of the ministry's Department of planning and finance Nguyen Nam Lien.

The epidemic has claimed 493 lives and sickened 24,567 as of morning of February 5, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health.

In Viet Nam, the health sector has confirmed 10 infected cases and three of them have been discharged from hospital after successful treatment, including one Chinese tourist, Li Zichao.

The Government had declared novel Coronavirus epidemic on February 1 and deployed string of strict measures to contain the spread of the epidemic, including tightening border control and imposing 14-day quarantine for all travellers to Viet Nam./.