Vietnamese citizens should not travel to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) affected areas announced by the competent authorities of the Republic of Korea, said the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department on Friday.

The latest move was made after the RoK reported 100 more new cases as of 4 p.m., the same day, bringing the total number of infections in the Northeast Asian nation to 204.

Vietnamese people in the RoK should regularly update and follow instructions provided by the host country’s authorities to keep them safe.

The Embassy of Viet Nam in Seoul has published a hotline +82 10 3622 6618 to provide necessary support and assistance for the Vietnamese community in the RoK, according to the Consular Department.

The Vietnamese nationals in the RoK can also contact citizen protection switchboard: +84981848484 in Viet Nam.

As part of drastic measures to contain the spread of the virus, the Seoul city government on Friday said it will ban rallies at three major public squares in the city center and close down Shincheonji churches in the capital, reported Yonhap News Agency./.