Vietnamese advised to avoid travel to coronavirus-hit areas in RoK

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Spraying disinfectants at a vegetable market in Daegu, the Republic of Korea, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on February 20 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The travel warning was made given the complex development of the COVID-19 in the RoK.

Vietnamese citizens were also advised to keep a close watch and follow instructions of local competent agencies to prevent the illness.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK to work with local competent agencies to learn more about the situation, keep in touch with Vietnamese citizens in the country, establish a hotline and stand ready to take citizen protection measures when necessary.

According to the embassy, as of February 21, no Vietnamese citizens had been infected with the epidemic.

In case of emergency, it is recommended to contact the hotline of the Vietnamese Embassy +82 10-3622-6618 or the citizen protection hotline: +84 981 84 84 84.

The RoK reported its second death on Saturday (Feb 22) from the novel coronavirus as the number of new cases rose by 142, bringing the nationwide total to 346.

This is the highest number of people infected outside of China.

The first patient who died from the virus was a long-term patient at a hospital in Cheongdo county. He had shown symptoms of pneumonia, and his status was only established posthumously.

The new coronavirus started in the Chinese city of Wuhan but has since spread to more than 25 countries.

Globally more than 2,200 people have died from the disease and more than 76,000 people have tested positive, the vast majority in China./.