Vietnam Reports 31 New COVID-19 Cases, Bans Foreigners From Entering The Country

Update on COVID-19 in Vietnam, 23 March 2020

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Since our last report on Friday (20th Mar), as of 11AM this morning, Vietnam recorded a major spike of 31 new COVID-19 cases. Most are travelers returning from overseas, including Vietnamese passport holders. 

To prevent the spread of the disease, the Vietnamese government has temporarily suspended entry to the country for all foreigners and overseas Vietnamese citizens.

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31 new COVID-19 cases as of 11AM, 23rd March

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31 new COVID-19 cases were reported, including 2 nurses and a doctor
(Photo for illustration purposes only)
Image credit: @vandanbi12345

31 new patients in Vietnam were confirmed to be positive to the COVID-19 virus, 28 of whom were reported over the weekend and the other 3 were discovered this morning. This pushes the total number from 85 as of our last update to 116. 

27 of the new cases are people returning from other countries, including:

• 4 passengers on Vietnam Airlines’ flight VN0050 from the UK to Cần Thơ airport on 18th March.
• 2 passengers on AirAsia’s flight AK575 from Malaysia to Cần Thơ airport on 18th March.
• 11 students studying abroad who returned to Vietnam from various countries including the UK, France, Hungary, and Spain.
• 1 pilot of UK nationality working for Vietnam Airlines
• 9 travelers who were in other countries for various purposes before returning to Vietnam between 13th and 19th March.
  

The National Hospital For Tropical Diseases, Hanoi.
Image credit: Quang

The other 4 cases include 2 nurses working at Bạch Mai Hospital, Hanoi, 1 girl who is the daughter of one of these nurses, as well as a doctor working at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, Hanoi.

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Vietnam now bans all foreigners from entering the country

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All foreigners and overseas Vietnamese are banned from entering the country
(Photos for illustration purposes only)
Image credit: @dorbjorn

In an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Vietnamese government has now banned all foreigners from entering the country. The ban came into effect yesterday, 22nd March, and also extends to overseas Vietnamese citizens as well as their family – even if they have visa exemptions that would normally allow them to enter Vietnam.

Special permissions may be granted for those who enter for diplomatic duties, as experts, and as high-skilled workers. These visitors might still be given visas if deemed necessary by Vietnamese authorities. However, they will be subjected to mandatory medical examinations and quarantined at their places of residence as per regulations.

Additionally, passengers on all domestic flights, trains, and inter-provincial buses must provide an online health declaration via tokhaiyte.vn. 

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COVID-19 in Vietnam

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The COVID-19 pandemic has left a severe impact all over the world, but knowing that our government is closely monitoring the situation and implementing all necessary methods to ensure our safety is a great reassurance that we’ll pull through. 

For now, let’s all do our part to combat the disease: practice good hygiene, avoid going out, and if you have to, always wear a mask.

For more COVID-19 stories, check out:

• Life in quarantine in Vietnam
• Vietnamese scientists and engineers invent disinfection chamber

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Cover image adapted from: @vandanbi12345, @dorbjorn

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