Illustrative image. (Source: VNA)Phu Tho (VNA) – The Ministry of Health on March 17 authorised the laboratory of the General Hospital ofthe northern province of Phu Tho toperform tests for the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that has caused respiratoryillness in 68 people in Vietnam so far.
As the viruscontinues spreading in the country, Secretary of the provincial Party CommitteeBui Minh Chau has requested all local departments and agencies as well asdistricts to intensify preventive measures against the epidemic.
Local authorities must strengthen checks and management of people returning from abroad and tourists in the province and activelyidentify those who are suspectedof carrying the virus or in close contact with infected cases, so as totimely place them under quarantineor medical surveillance.
All overseasreturnees and visitors must be required to fill out health declaration forms andhave their health examined while those who fail to comply with this order mustbe given strict penalties.
Phu Tho hasreported no COVID-19 case todate. Seven suspected cases havebeen put into quarantine at the provincial general hospital, six of whomalready testing negative for SARS-CoV-2 intheir first test.
Meanwhile,three other people, tworeturning from China and one from the Republic of Korea, are being quarantined at the provincial militaryschool. About 450 people travelling from the virus-hit areas or in close contactwith infected patients are under self-quarantine.
Vietnam hasreported 68 confirmed cases so far as of March 18 noon, with the latest patientbeing a 41-year-old US citizen living in the central city of Da Nang.
The man, whosewife is a Vietnamese, went abroad last month and travelled through manycountries like India, Spain, Morocco, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary and theNetherlands.
He has beenkept in quarantine at arrival at the Da Nang International Airport./.
VNA
