The Ministry of Health (MoH) has ordered the tightened monitoring of Vietnamese citizens recently returning from China in the face of the acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Vietnamese citizens stay at a quarantine area in Lao Cai northern border province
(Photo: VNA)

In a dispatch, the ministry stated that some Vietnamese nationals who returned from China, transited via the neighbouring country, or went to other countries from China to enter Vietnam within 14 days have yet to undergo medical examination and quarantine.

Authorities in cities and provinces nationwide are requested to closely follow the Prime Minister’s order on COVID-19 prevention and control and conduct quarantine for people and vehicles of the aforementioned cases to promptly detect suspected infections.

The receipt and quarantine for Vietnamese citizens from China also need to comply with orders of the PM and guidance of the ministry.

Police are asked to make lists of local residents who previously went to China within 14 days before entering Vietnam, then report to local steering boards for prevention and control of the disease.

Relevant agencies need to update information regularly and promote dissemination on preventive measures.