Health workers in protective suits disinfect the residence of the new community case of COVID-19 in Hồng Hà District, Hạ Long City, Quảng Ninh Province early Thursday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG NINH — All schools from kindergarten to university-level institutions in Quảng Ninh Province in northern Việt Nam have been told to close on Thursday until at least the end of the week after a COVID-19 community case was detected.

Nguyễn Tường Văn, Chairman of Quảng Ninh Province made the order during a provincial COVID-19 prevention meeting.

Large gatherings should be minimised, while all non-essential meetings will be cancelled, he said.

Việt Nam’s latest COVID-19 case, Patient 1,553, is a 31-year-old man, whose name was given as P.T.D, living in the Hồng Hà District of Hạ Long City, and working as a security guard at Vân Đồn International Airport.

He reportedly had contact with people entering Việt Nam from overseas, including people who later tested positive to SARS-CoV-2.

In recent days, he suffered from fever and coughing, checked himself to Vinmec Hospital in Hạ Long for examination on January 23. The hospital has taken his example, which returns positive for coronavirus and he has been quarantined since then.

He has now been moved to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hà Nội for treatment.

According to the travel history issued by the health ministry, the man went to a school reunion party at Talata restaurant (Hồng Hải District, Hạ Long City), then went on to a karaoke bar named Hải Âu (Hồng Hải District), had coffee at Cam store (Hồng Hải District), and eventually had a late-night snack at Đông Hồ restaurant (Hồng Hải District).

On January 19, he attended a northern region electronics conference held at Mường Thanh Luxury (Bãi Cháy District, Hạ Long City) from 7pm-9pm and had gone to a Circle K convenience store in Trần Hưng Đạo District, Hạ Long City around 11-12pm.

On January 21, around 6pm-9pm, he had a party with fellow airport staff at Trung Sún restaurant in the airport.

On January 22, he had a meeting in the air control zone of the airport in the afternoon and went to a drug store for medicine.

From January 23-27, he was admitted to Vinmec Hospital in Hạ Long, where 37 medical staff have been identified as close contacts.

From January 7 to 22, he went from home to work using his own vehicle.

He had had close contact with 44 security personnel of the Vân Đồn International Airport, two canteen staff, and another gas station clerk (whose identity remains unknown).

Five people in his family – his father, mother, younger sister, wife and son – are also among those he came into close contact with. — VNS