Medical workers moved to spray disinfectant throughout the renowned Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi on the morning of March 9 after two British tourists who were on flight VN0054 tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The move to disinfect the hotel comes after the Trang Tien ward People's Committee issued a dispatch regarding the implementation of preventive measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 to the Board of Directors of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel, located at number 15 Ngo Quyen street in the capital, on March 8. 

According to the dispatch, the COVID-19 Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of Trang Tien ward announced that two British nationals who had been staying at the hotel between March 2 and March 5 had tested positive for the COVID-19.

The steering committee requested that Sofitel Legend Metropole urgently moves to quarantine hotel areas, all staff, and guests in line with the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

The hotel has also been requested not to receive any new guests as of 22:00 on March 8 until the conclusion of the quarantine process stated in the regulations set out by the health sector.

In addition to these measures, the establishment is also required to compile a list of all staff who had come into close contact with the infected cases whilst also collecting information regarding their movements between March 2 and the present.

Dinh Hong Phong, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee, said medical workers has sprayed disinfectant throughout the premises where the two positive cases had been detected.

The existing guests at the hotel have been put into isolation for 14 days while guests will only be able to check out of the hotel starting from March 20.