The epidemic broke out on January 23, when the first infectious case was detected. The  infectious locations are Khanh Hoa, Vinh Phuc, and Thanh Hoa with 6 confirmed cases. The outbreak is public health emergency of international concern and the coronavirus is human-to-human transmitted.

Measures include establishing a National Steering Committee on epidemic prevention and control, reporting on the epidemic, treatment, isolation, disinfection, personal protection, quarantine, resources mobilization, and international cooperation.

Health facilities at provincial and central level, police and army hospitals and other well-equipped facilities, even field hospital, should undertake the tasks of receiving, isolating, and curing patients.