An additional two imported COVID-19 cases were confirmed on December 30, all of which involved people returning from abroad who had been placed into quarantine, according to information released by the Ministry of Health.

Among the two new patients, one returned from Germany and the other from the Republic of Korea. They are currently in quarantine to undergo treatment at local hospitals.

As of December 30, the country has recorded a total of 1,456 COVID-19 cases, of which 693 are community infections, whilst an additional 763 are imported cases. The number of deaths still remains at 35.

The same day, four more coronavirus patients were declared to have fully recovered from the virus, taking the total recoveries to 1,323.

Of the active patients, a total of 10 have gone on to test negative once for SARS-CoV-2, whilst 10 have tested negative twice, and an additional 10 have tested negative three times.

Moreover, a total of more than 16,000 people who came into close contact with COVID-19 patients or have recently returned home from pandemic-hit areas have been placed into quarantine throughout the nation.

The fact shows that the nation is put at a high risk of pandemic transmission amid the growing number of repatriation flights to be conducted in the coming time to bring home Vietnamese citizens and experts.

In the face of the complicated developments of the pandemic, the Health Ministry has urged the people to strictly follow the 5K motto: Khau trang (Face masks) – Khu khuan (Disinfection) – Khoang cach (Keeping distance) - Khong tap trung dong nguoi (No gathering) – Khai bao y te (Health declaration) in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission.