COVID-19 update: 1,515 people tested negative for COVID-19

All the 16 COVID-19 patients in the country had been cleared of the virus and discharged from hospitals.

The last patient, who exited hospital on Wednesday, was also the last case confirmed in Viet Nam so far.

The 50-year-old man is a native of the northern Vinh Phuc province - the hardest-hit locality in the nation with a total of 11 infections.

The ministry also reported that as of 7:00 pm on Friday, 1,515 people have been tested nagative for the virus and other 105 have have been quarantined to prevent spread of the virus to communities.

The same day, the Government of Viet Nam announced visa-waiver program for nationals of South Korea will be temporarily suspended from February 29 in the wake of COVID-19 epidemic.

The latest move is part of the Vietnamese Government’s measures to contain the spread of the epidemic to Viet Nam and minimize negative impacts of the epidemic on the economy and the society.

All incoming travelers from South Korea or have travel record to South Korea shall be subjected to mandatory 14-day isolation, required the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention and Control.

Earlier on February 25, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a directive asking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promptly inform South Korea, other countries and territories about Viet Nam’s measures to prevent spread of the COVID-19 epidemic amid rising infections across the globe.