Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday ordered quarantine of all travellers who come from or transit through the novel coronavirus (nCoV) affected areas in China amid fear of fast spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Photo: VGP

 Those who come from or transit through Hubei shall be immediately kept in isolation at the designated medical establishments of the province/city they enter.

The competent authorities shall strictly supervise and seriously disinfect houses and accommodations as well as surrounding areas where suspected patients live.

New infection cases must be immediately made public, the Government chief ordered.

The virus has claimed 362 lives, including one Filippino and sickened 17,486 others in 26 countries and territories.

In Viet Nam, the Ministry of Health confirmed the 8th virus-infected patient on Monday morning.

The new patient, who returned to Viet Nam from China’s Wuhan last month on a Southern China flight, is a female worker from the Northern province of Vinh Phuc.

The others include two Chinese nationals (a son and his father and the former has recovered), three members of a French family, and a US citizens transiting through Wuhan on January 15 on his way to Viet Nam from the US.

Last week, the Government chief issued directives clarifying responsibilities of ministries, agencies and localities in prevention and control of the epidemic.

He also decided to set up a steering committee responsible for containing the epidemic, led by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

Dam said that fighting nCoV epidemic is the top task now./.