New developments on COVID-19 in Vietnam, 26th March
As Vietnam continues to record more COVID-19 cases every day, the government has shut down all “non-essential” businesses such as bars, cafes, and gyms in the metropolises of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Meanwhile, following an earlier announcement that the Tân Sơn Nhất Airport will stop accepting international flights carrying Vietnamese citizens, Hanoi’s Nội Bài Airport is doing the same starting today.
14 new COVID-19 cases in Vietnam
14 new COVID-19 cases have been reported since yesterday
(Photo for illustration purposes only)
Image credit: mingibeanie
As of 9AM, 26th March 2020, Vietnam has recorded a total of 148 COVID-19 cases, 14 of which were reported within the past 24 hours.
Case 135 is a 27-year-old female who lives in Hải Phòng city. On 19th March, she took a flight from Copenhagen, Denmark to Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, and was quarantined on arrival.
Case 136 is a 23-year-old female who lives in Hoàng Mai District, Hanoi. She was studying abroad in the US. She returned to Vietnam on 16th March and practiced self-quarantine at home. On 21st March, she started developing a fever and was tested for Covid-19.
Case 137 is a 36-year-old male who lives in Yên Thành District, Nghệ An province. He traveled to Germany and returned to Vietnam on 15th March.
Case 138 is a 23-year-old male who lives in Đống Đa District, Hanoi. He was a student studying abroad in the UK. He returned to Hanoi on 21st March and was quarantined on arrival.
Case 139 is a 24-year-old female who lives in Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi. She was also a student returning to Hanoi from the UK on 21st March and was quarantined on arrival. Her husband was also tested positive to COVID-19.
Case 140 is a 21-year-old male who studied abroad in the UK. He returned to Hanoi on 21st March and was quarantined on arrival.
Case 141 is a 29-year-old male who is a doctor working at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, Hanoi, where COVID-19 patients are quarantined.
Case 142 is a 26-year-old male who lives in Bình Chánh District, Hồ Chí Minh City. He was a student studying abroad in the US. On 8th March, he took a flight from Texas, transited at Taipei, Taiwan, and landed in Ho Chi Minh City on 10th March. He tested positive on 23rd March and is being treated at a field hospital in Cần Giờ District.
Case 143 is a 58-year-old South African woman who lives in Tân Phú District, Hồ Chí Minh City. She returned to the city from the US on 21st March. Before that, she had come in direct contact with a family member who had COVID-19.
Case 144 is a 22-year-old male who lives in Phú Nhuận District, Hồ Chí Minh City. He returned from the UK on 22nd March.
Case 145 is a 34-year-old male who lives in Tân Phú District, Hồ Chí Minh City. He returned from the US to Cần Thơ City on 22nd March.
Case 146 is a 17-year-old female who lives Nghi Lộc District, Nghệ An Province. She returned to Vietnam from Thailand on 20th March. It was also reported that she had come into close contact with a COVID-19 patient beforehand.
Case 147 is a 19-year-old male who lives in Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi. He was studying abroad in the UK and returned to Hanoi on 21st March.
Case 148 is a 58-year-old French man who was staying in Đống Đa District, Hanoi. He arrived on 12th March, visited several tourist attractions in Hanoi between then and 19th March, after which he was tested for COVID-19 and quarantined at home.
Hanoi’s Nội Bài Airport redirects all international flights transporting Vietnamese citizens
Hanoi’s Nội Bài Airport stops accepting international flights carrying Vietnamese citizens from today
(Photo for illustration purposes only)
Image credit: @iam_minhloc99
Following our report on Tuesday that Hồ Chí Minh City’s Tân Sơn Nhất Airport would stop accepting flights carrying Vietnamese citizens returning from overseas and redirect them to other airports to prevent overcrowding quarantine facilities in the area, Nội Bài Airport in Hanoi is now doing the same.
The new regulation comes into effect today, 26th March 2020, and is expected to last until the end of this month.
With this latest development, international flights coming to Vietnam will have to land at Vân Đồn Airport (Quảng Ninh Province), Phù Cát Airport (Bình Định Province), Cần Thơ Airport (Cần Thơ City), and other airports as directed by aviation authorities.
Non-essential businesses shut down in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
A normally crowded street in the touristic Old Quarter of Hanoi now empty
Image credit: Giang Trịnh
Yesterday evening, Hanoi ordered the shutting of all “non-essential” businesses such as bars, karaokes, and cinemas to limit the spread of COVID-19. The restriction is expected to last until 5th April, though that might be subjected to change depending on how the situation develops. Locals are also urged to stay at home as much as possible.
A similar directive was issued in Hồ Chí Minh City on Tuesday that saw all barbershops, gyms, beauty salons, and restaurants with a capacity of over 30 diners close until the end of this month. Bars, karaoke, and cinemas in the southern city have been closed since 15th March.
Vietnam and the fight against COVID-19
So far, the Vietnamese government has proven its responsiveness to new COVID-19 developments. We must also do our part in maintaining the safety of our community. Avoid going out if not absolutely necessary, and keep practicing good hygiene.
For more COVID-19 stories, check out:
- Vietnamese man goes back to COVID-19-stricken Milan to reunite with wife
- Ho Chi Minh City residents wear visor hats to protect themselves
Cover image credit: Giang Trịnh, @iam_minhloc99
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