Côn Đảo Island off the coast of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province. VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The southern coastal province of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu has banned foreign tourists from entering Côn Đảo Island since Tuesday (March 10) as it seeks to contain the new coronavirus.

Authorities in the island district had sought the ban.

The provincial People’s Committee ordered them to close relics and tourist attractions and suspend eco-tourism activities until further notice.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has instructed the Côn Đảo Preservation Centre for National Relics and the Côn Đảo National Park to close down and suspend sightseeing tours.

Locals have been advised to avoid non-essential travel.

More than 200 foreign visitors currently visiting the island will be asked to return to the mainland soon.

The island receives an average of 3,000 visitors a day.

The district’s healthcare system is modest and lacks doctors and nurses to treat infected patients.

The People’s Committee of Phú Quý Island in the south-central province of Bình Thuận has asked the provincial authorities to impose a ban on foreigners from March 10.

It also seeks to keep domestic tourists out.

As of Tuesday 16 foreign tourists and two overseas Vietnamese were on the island and they have been advised to return to the mainland. — VNS