Checking temperatures at a quarantine post in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

HÀ NỘI — Since Friday evening, Việt Nam has reported no new cases of COVID-19, keeping the country’s total number of COVID-19 cases at 270, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced at 6pm on Sunday.

The country also reported zero deaths caused by COVID-19 so far.

The two latest COVID-19 cases in Việt Nam were confirmed last Friday – two Vietnamese students who flew from Japan on flight VN311 of Vietnam Airlines which arrived at Vân Đồn Airport in Quảng Ninh Province on April 22. The two patients and all passengers on the flight were taken to quarantine at a military academy in Thái Bình Province right after landing.

On Saturday morning, five people who had previously been given the all-clear reportedly tested positive again. The five relapse cases include two being treated at the National Tropical Disease Hospital’s branch in Hà Nội’s Đông Anh District – Patient 188 and Patient 137, two other cases treated at Quảng Ninh No2 Hospital – Patient 52 and Patient 149, and the last one – Patient 36 who is treated at Bình Thuận Traditional Medicine Hospital.

Of the total 270 COVID-19 cases in Việt Nam, 225 cases have recovered, 45 active cases are being treated at six health facilities nationwide.

Among the active cases, 13 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once and three have tested negative twice.

On Friday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc signed a directive on continued implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures while social distancing has been eased since April 23.

Under the directive, people are asked to frequently wash hands with soap or antibacterial products, wear face masks when outdoors, keep a safe distance and avoid gathering in public places.

Festivals, religious events, sports events or any non-necessary gathering in public places are continued to be halted.

Non-essential business like entertainment venues, beauty salons, karaoke, bars and clubs are still suspended. Other non-essential business including retail stores, hotels, restaurants and food stalls can resume operation if ensuring protective measures such as protective suits for staff, checking temperatures for consumers/clients, and making soap/antibacterial products available for hand washing.

When students return to school, the number of students in each class/canteen must be reduced and safe distance among students must be ensured.

Localities facing the risk of infection like Hà Nội, HCM City, Bắc Ninh and Hà Giang continued discouraging people from going out if not necessary. Gatherings of more than 20 people in public places or outside of offices/schools/hospitals is banned. Distance from people to people must be at least one metre.

In other localities which are classified in the low-risk group, gatherings of more than 30 people is banned in public places or outside of offices/schools/hospitals. The minimum safe distance among people is one metre. — VNS