Workers and visitors to Compal Vietnam Ltd Company in Bá Thiện 1 Industrial Park in Bình Xuyên District, Vĩnh Phúc have their body temperatures checked. —VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hùng

VĨNH PHÚC — The People’s Committee of Vĩnh Phúc Province has asked local agencies to avoid large gatherings or meetings to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Provincial Chairman Nguyễn Văn Trì sent an urgent dispatch on Sunday to local administrations, asking them to uphold their responsibilities and follow the Law on Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and recommendations from the health ministry.

Vĩnh Phúc remains a hot spot for the outbreak. Eleven out of the 16 cases in Việt Nam are from the province.

Sơn Lôi Commune in Bình Xuyên District has been under quarantine since last Thursday after six cases were discovered.

Authorities have instructed local offices and companies to be sprayed with disinfectant, and for all officers and workers to wear face masks.

Leaders have been put in charge of re-organising working schedules and allowing workers to take days off if necessary.

Authorities in Bình Xuyên District are closely supervising interactions between officers and workers in Sơn Lôi Commune with those from other areas to prevent the virus from spreading.

The province has set up 12 check points around the commune to supervise the quarantined area.

The province now has 74 people suspected of COVID-19 under quarantine.

Among the 16 confirmed cases in Việt Nam, seven had been discharged from hospital as of Monday afternoon. — VNS