Vietnamese citizens returning from Russia arrive at a quarantine centre in Hòa Bình Province. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Sixteen more COVID-19 patients have been detected in Việt Nam with all arriving in the country on board two flights flight from Russia.

Fifteen of the new cases are Vietnamese citizens and the other is a Russian expert coming to work in the country. All were immediately quarantined upon arrival.

The total number of infections in Việt Nam now stands at 1,281.

Five of the Vietnamese citizens arrived on flight VN5062 via Vân Đồn airport in Quảng Ninh Province on October 31. They tested positive for the virus on November 13 and 15 and are being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hà Nội's Đông Anh District and Hòa Bình Hospital in northern Hòa Bình Province. 

The rest of the patients, including a 46-year-old Russian man, arrived in Việt Nam on flight VN5062 via Cam Ranh airport in south central Khánh Hòa Province on November 11. They tested positive for the virus on November 14 and are being treated at different hospitals in the province. 

Meanwhile, almost 450 Vietnamese citizens were flown home safely on two flights organised by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on Saturday.

They were arranged by Vietnamese authorities, the Embassy of Việt Nam in Japan and the airline, together with Japanese relevant agencies.

All passengers and crew members received medical check-ups and were sent to quarantine in line with regulations upon arrival at Cần Thơ and Cam Ranh airports in the Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ and Khánh Hòa Province. —VNS