HÀ NỘI — The health ministry late Sunday announced that the results for three foreigners visiting Việt Nam have returned positive, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients in the country to 57.

The 55th case is a 35-year-old German national who arrived in Hà Nội Saturday morning on flight numbered VN0018.

The patient and all those coming into close contact with him have been sent to the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases for observation and their clinical samples sent to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

The patient was reportedly in a stable condition.

The 56th patient, also a male in his 30s, is from the UK. He boarded a flight from the UK to Hà Nội’s Nội Bài international airport on March 9.

After arrival, he reportedly met two of his female friends (one 28-year-old and one 24-year-old) – who also arrived in Hà Nội from the UK but on a different flight.

The patient registered for one-night stay at Hanoi Paradise Center Hotel on Hàng Vôi Street in the Old Quarter and checked out on March 10.

Watch our video on how to fill in health declarations when entering Việt Nam

From March 10-13, the patient went to the mountainous township Sa Pa and stayed at Mountain River Homestay Sâp (Tả Van Commune) and later returned to Hà Nội and stayed at Oriental Suites on Hàng Đào Street.

Hàng Đào Ward’s authorities have obtained the information regarding his stay and put him under quarantine.

Late Saturday, initial tests run by Hà Nội Centre for Disease Control (CDC) return positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and his clinical samples were sent to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for confirmation.

He is currently also being treated at Đông Anh campus of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases and is reportedly in a stable condition.

Sunday saw the addition of three new positive cases in Việt Nam – all foreigners from European countries.

The 57th patient is a 66-year-old British national who previously boarded the same flight on which a Vietnamese air hostess was confirmed to be positive. The patient is being treated in the central province of Quảng Nam.

Sunday saw the addition of four new positive cases in Việt Nam – all foreigners from European countries.

Việt Nam starting on Saturday imposing a travel ban on all those from or transiting Schengen countries and the UK due to the rising number of cases and deaths in the region. — VNS