HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health on Wednesday afternoon confirmed that three people in the central province of Bình Thuận tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, raising the total number of COVID-19 infection cases in Việt Nam to 38.

The three people were in contact with the 34th patient – a 51-year-old Vietnamese businesswoman who flew from Việt Nam to New York, transiting Incheon in the Republic of Korea on February 22. She took a flight from Washington DC back to Việt Nam on February 29, with a stop-over in Qatar's Doha Airport, and entered the country on March 2 at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in HCM City.

According to Bình Thuận Province’s Health Department, as soon as the 34th patient was confirmed positive for the new strain of coronavirus on Tuesday, the province’s Centre for Diseases Control identified the affected area, sterilised the site and sent 21 people who had close contact with the patient to quarantine.

Among 15 samples sent to Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang, three were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The 36th COVID-19 case in the country is a 64-year-old woman working as a domestic helper for the 34th patient.

The 37th case is 37-year-old woman, an employee of the 34th patient.

The 38th case is the 28-year-old daughter-in-law of the 34th patient.

The three new COVID-19 patients now have a fever and all are receiving treatment at the province’s General Hospital. — VNS