Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on February 28 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam will suspend visa-free entry for all visitors from the Republic of Korea,effective from 0:00 am on February 29, amid fears over the new coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2) spreading.
All peopleflying from or transiting through the RoK are subject to a 14-day quarantine,heard a meeting of theNational Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, chaired byDeputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, in Hanoi on February 28.
“It is just atemporary measure which is suitable at this time when the epidemic isdeveloping complicatedly,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung.
Peopletravelling from coronavirus-hit areas, such as Iran and Italy, must also beput under quarantine for 14 days inorder to contain the spread of the virus in Vietnam, he said.
DeputyMinister of Transport Le Anh Tuan said the number of air travellers between Vietnam and the RoK fellsignificantly over the past several days so domestic airlines are consideringhalting flights on this route.
Deputy PM VuDuc Dam requested government bodies and localities to continue tightening border control and people’s entry andrigorously enforcing precautions and quarantine measures.
Vietnam hasreported no new infection of SARS-CoV-2 since February 13. However, as the virus spreads more widely around theglobe, Dam urged relevant authorities to remain calm and prepared in case new infectionsare reported.
“We are more proactive but must not make light of the situation,”he said.
By 9:00am onFebruary 28, a total of 83,047 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recorded in 51 countries and territories worldwide. China alone had 78,824 cases. The death tollclimbed to 2,814, including 2,758 in China, 13 in the RoK, 26 in Iran, 14 in Italy, 8 in Japan, two inHong Kong (China) and one each in the Philippines, France and Taiwan (China)./.
VNA
