BẮC NINH — A South Korean man who died near Bắc Ninh General Hospital on Tuesday tested negative for COVID-19, said deputy director of the Bắc Ninh Department of Information and Communications Vũ Huy Phương on Wednesday.

The test was conducted by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

Jung Jin Yong, 44, entered Việt Nam on January 28 this year and was staying temporarily at a hotel in Ninh Xá Ward, Bắc Ninh City.

He worked at the Stn Vina Co Ltd in the Việt Hùng Industrial Zone in Quế Võ District.

He went to the Bắc Ninh General Hospital for a check-up on February 7 and was diagnosed with diabetes. He was treated at the hospital.

At 4pm on February 25, he was examined again at the hospital.

His translator said that he was suffering with a backache and wanted to get some medicine.

After being examined, medical workers found that he had a normal temperature and no breathing problems. The patient left the hospital.

By 5pm the same day, locals discovered the man lying at an intersection about 100m from the hospital. They called an ambulance.

Doctors found the man unresponsive and not breathing.

Doctors took his samples for testing and discovered his blood sugar was very high.

The cause of death is under further investigation by police. — VNS