HANOI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has implemented a string of measures across the country including closing tourist destinations, shutting down schools, disinfecting old notes, applying health declaration and quarantining in order to curb the spread of novel coronavirus, which has confirmed to have infected 45 people in the country as of Friday.
The capital city of Hanoi on Friday announced that it will close all historical relics, bars, karaoke rooms and music shows until the end of March, and requested hotels and accommodation establishments to provide information of guests, especially those from epidemic-hit regions within the 13 days since March 1, Vietnam News Agency reported.
The city also asked all Vietnamese nationals who returned to the country from overseas within the 13 days since March 1 to limit exposure with their family members and apply self-quarantine for at least 14 days.
The city’s authority said the risk of disease transmission is high in the downtown district, adding that local residents need to keep themselves from crowed gatherings and salespeople need to wear mask and keep a safe distance when in contact with tourists.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Wednesday issued a directive requesting stronger actions to prevent and control COVID-19 in which he ordered competent authorities to push ahead with quickly detecting and strictly controlling sources of infection, both in the country and from other nations, daily newspaper Vietnam News reported.
Phuc also demanded tightened control of those entering Vietnam by air, land and sea, approved the temporary suspension of the visa exemption for citizens of, as well as for Vietnamese people and their spouses and children in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Britain, France, Germany and Spain.
Health declaration has been made compulsory for all people entering Vietnam while those coming from or travelling through epidemic-hit areas must be quarantined, according to the directive, adding that flights between the country and those areas, including those by foreign airlines, must be minimized.
Meanwhile, the country’s Ministry of Education has decided to adjust the time of organizing the national entrance exams to Aug. 8-11, instead of early July as usual.
Provinces and cities including Hoi An, Quang Ninh, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen have also announced the temporary suspense of parts of their tourist destinations, according to Vietnam News Agency.
To date, Vietnam has confirmed 45 infection cases with 16 already discharged from hospital, seeing 29 new infections since March 6. The country has 268 suspected cases with nearly 29,000 being put under quarantine as of Friday, according to its health ministry.
