Hanoi has detected three new cases suspected of contracting the new coronavirus (Covid-19) who have returned from China and acquired respiratory illness on February 20, Vietnamnet reported.

Illustrative photo

Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien said that the three new cases of nCoV infection were among the 65 people being isolated at the city’s Public Security Hospital. The three are from Hanoi, Hai Phong and Nghe An province.

These people showed symptoms of respiratory illness on February 20 and were referred to Dong Da Hospital to be sampled for nCoV testing, isolation and treatment.

Up to now, Hanoi has not recorded any individual positive with Covid-19. Currently, the municipal government is isolating 388 people at home for medical surveillance.

Vietnam officially declared the novel coronavirus outbreak an epidemic on February 1. So far 16 infections have been recorded, 15 of whom have been discharged from hospital.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of February 21, the global death toll of the epidemic has reached 2,247. Hong Kong, Iran and Diamond Princess ship each has reported two deaths while Japan, Taiwan, France, South Korea and the Philippines each has recorded one death; the rest of fatalities have been recorded in mainland China.