An Austrian expert is among three people who have been diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said on January 8.

Doctors hold a brief consultation for patients in serious condition. (Photo: MoH)

The Austrian citizen, 39, took EK394 flight from his country to Vietnam on January 5, transiting through Dubai. He was quarantined upon his arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport.

He tested positive for the virus on January 7 and was immediately transferred to Hanoi-based Hospital of Tropical Diseases for medical observation and treatment.

The other two patients are Vietnamese citizens who returned to the homeland on separate flights from the United Kingdom on December 22, 2020 and from the Czech Republic on December 26, 2020.

Both were placed in quarantine at health facilities in Tra Vinh province and Hanoi following positive tests on January 7.

As of 18.00hrs on January 8 Vietnam has recorded a total of 1,512 COVID-19 patients of whom 821 came from epidemic hit countries worldwide.

Also on January 8 the Ministry of Health reported that four COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease.

To date as many as 1,357 COVID-19 patients have been cured from the disease. Among the active cases, two are in serious health condition, with one in Quang Nam province and the other in Hanoi.

Doctors are considering an ECMO treatment for the patient in Hanoi after she suffered from severe respiratory distress.