Mai Tien Dung, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

There are 3 rings of isolation that can be imposed by local authorities under support from the Ministry, he said.

“The 1^st ring is for people suspected of nCoV infection, who will be immediately isolated at health facilities. The 2^nd ring is for Vietnamese or foreign citizens entering Vietnam from Hubei province, who will be isolated in concentration zones. The 3^rd ring is for people returning to Vietnam from other Chinese regions, who will be isolated within their families.”

Mai Tien Dung, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office, told reporters that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has directed steps to be taken to receive 19 of 24 Vietnamese citizens in Wuhan, China, who are asking to return to Vietnam.

“There are plans to bring home Vietnamese citizens now in epidemic areas. They will have to go through 14 days of isolation. The Ministry of National Defense will provide them with food, accommodations, and access to television for public information updates. Isolation will be carried out in 7 border provinces in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the police.”

Officials answered reporters’ questions on plans for temporary school closings and market stabilization during the virus outbreak.

As of Wednesday night, 350 out of 400 people suspected to have the nCoV virus had tested negative. Three coronavirus patients had been successfully treated and were recovering in Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh city, and Khanh Hoa.

The Health Ministry has deployed inspection teams in border provinces and is organizing training courses on treating and preventing respiratory illnesses caused by nCoV.

The Vietnam Aviation Department has authorized flights to bring home Vietnamese citizens now in China and Chinese citizens in Vietnam. Flights carrying Vietnamese citizens from China will land at Van Don International Airport, Can Tho International Airport, or Phu Cat airport.