The 42-year-old male patient, case No.61, was hospitalised on March 15. He had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on March 16.

The other patient, a 36-year-old male, case No. 67, was hospitalised on March 17 and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on March 18.

They live in Thuận Nam District’s Phước Nam Commune in the south-central coastal province of Ninh Thuận and have both attended a religious gathering in Malaysia, which later turned out to be a big COVID-19 cluster that resulted in a spike of coronavirus patients across Southeast Asia.

The two patients are currently in good health condition and do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. 

Dr Thái Phương Phiên, head of the Ninh Thuận Province General Hospital, said they will continue to be treated for their chronic diseases. Patient No.61 suffers from diabetes and patient No.67 from hypertension. 

The hospital’s doctors also provided mental therapy to help reduce stress during treatment for COVID-19, Phiên said.  

After being discharged from the hospital, they will be placed under isolation and close observation for the next 14 days, as required by the Ministry of Health. 

Ninh Thuận has recorded two COVID-19 patients since the beginning of the epidemic. — VNS