A 75-year-old Japanese director of Hokkaido Lotus company based in Lac Duong district of Lam Dong province has tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus after recently returning to Japan from Vietnam.

Special medical staff spray disinfectants at
the COVID-19 patient’s company in Lac Duong district  

The information was revealed by Lam Dong province’s Department of Health on August 3 after being informed by the health agency in Japan about the infected case.

However, it is not clear where or when the Japanese director first became infected with the virus.

Entering Vietnam on March 19, the Japanese executive was granted the ‘immunity passport’ by the Japanese health agency. This means he must have been infected during his stay in the country.

Upon receiving news about the latest positive case, the provincial health department swiftly collected samples from 34 people who had come into close contact with the Japanese director, with all of their results coming back negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

At present everyone who came into close contact with the man has been placed under strict surveillance at various concentrated quarantine facilities.

Local authorities are still attempting to trace the F1 and F2 contacts who had come into close contact with the COVID-19 patient.

As of the morning of August 3, the country has recorded 621 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with six fatalities being reported so far.