The declaration notes the starting date of the epidemic as January 23, where the first two cases of the pneumonia-like virus infection in Vietnam were confirmed to be a pair of Chinese father and son originally from Wuhan, China.
The declaration notes that the outbreak is a “public health emergency of international concern,” in line with the announcement from World Health Organisation on January 30.
The scope of the epidemic is currently limited to three provinces, Khanh Hoa, Vinh Phuc and Thanh Hoa.
At the national teleconference held in Hanoi on Feb. 1, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, who is head of the national steering committee for prevention and control of the acute respiratory disease caused by new coronavirus (nCoV) said Vietnam has been all set for the fight against the novel coronavirus that is sweeping all over the world.
He stressed that prevention of the deadly virus is a mission of top priority of the Party Committee at all levels, fatherland front, and organisations.
The Health Ministry confirmed a new case of nCoV infection on February 1, raising the total number of infections of the new coronavirus in Vietnam to six. They include two Chinese, three Vietnamese returning from China’s Wuhan city, and a receptionist.
Also on Feb. 1, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has announced that all permits granted for flights between Việt Nam and China (including Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau) have been temporarily revoked, effective starting 1pm the same day until further notice.
According to the ministry, the number of nCoV infections in the world rose to 11,949 as of 8:30 on February 1, with 11,791 cases in China. The death toll increased to 259, all in China./.
