(MOFA) - On the 6th of February, 2020, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Regular Press Conference, in responding to a question about measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protect Vietnamese citizens abroad in the context of the increasingly complicating outbreak of the novel Coronavirus epidemic, Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang stated:

Immediately after the information about the epidemic was released, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has actively requested Vietnamese overseas missions, particularly those in China, to regularly provide information and updates on the disease’s situation, demands of Vietnamese citizens in China and the local countermeasures. Vietnamese diplomatic missions also opened hotlines for citizen protection and stand ready to provide assistance and protections for Vietnamese citizens in case of necessity. Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a travel advisory that Vietnamese citizens should not travel to epidemic regions or areas potentially affected by the epidemic as advised by China and WHO.

During the past few days, Vietnamese diplomatic missions in China have been keeping regular contact with more than 400 Vietnamese citizens who are currently living, studying, working and traveling in China (excluding unregistered cases) to closely monitor the situations, pay visits, encourage and provide supports in case any has difficulties with visas due to the epidemic. Until now, Vietnamese students and citizens in China, in general, remain healthy and well-balanced.

Regarding the Vietnamese citizen (from Dong Nai province) diagnosed with coronavirus, the embassy has requested the local authorities for special care and treatment for the patient. The above mentioned citizen is being actively treated at the No. 5 hospital, Jiangxi province.

Following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely coordinating with the relevant agencies, in order to bring Vietnamese citizens in the epidemic-affected areas home based on the citizens' wishes, whilst complying with the international practices, Vietnamese and local laws.