Temperature screening is conducted at an office building over fears of the nCoV outbreak. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam confirmed theeighth case of infection by the new coronavirus from China’s Wuhan city, knownas 2019-nCoV, on February 3,according to the Ministry of Health.
The new patient is a female worker from thenorthern province of Vinh Phuc, who returned to Vietnam from Wuhan last month on a Southern China flight, the sameflight taken by three otherVietnamese previously tested positive to the deadly virus.
The other cases consist of two Chinese nationals (a man and his son, with one alreadyrecovering), a Vietnamese hotel receptionist having contact with the Chinesefather and son, and a UScitizen transiting Wuhan on his flight to Vietnam.
At least 20cities and provinces nationwide have decided to temporarily close schools from February 3 in an effort to stemthe spreading of the virus.
The move wasmade following Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s instruction to give students a temporary break overthe concern about the novelvirus.
A total of 137universities and colleges have also announced to extend the Lunar NewYear holiday for one or two moreweeks.
The NationalSuper Cup – THACO 2019 has also been postponed because of the nCoV outbreak. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) hasdecided to cancel the tournament’sopening match between Hanoi FC and Ho Chi Minh City FC on February 7. Itsaid the match would be held onFebruary 21 or March 1 instead.
On February 2,companies in Vietnam were asked to suspend receiving Chinese workers who return from infected areas inChina after the Lunar New Year holiday, following an urgent notice issued by the Minitry of Labour, Invalids andSocial Affairs.
Those who havealready arrived in Vietnam must be quarantined and monitored for 14 days, thenotice says.
Industrialparks, processing and economic zones across the country must also halt granting new working permits to foreigners from infected areas.
As of 7:30amon February 3, the death toll from the coronavirus has climbedto 362, including 361 in China and one in the Philippines. A total of 17,387people around the globe have been confirmed infected with the virus, including17,205 in China, according to the Ministry of Health./.
VNA
