A man travelling back to Ho Chi Minh City from Covid-19 epicenter in the northern provine of Hai Duong has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Nguyen Tan Binh confirmed the Covid-19 case on January 30.

Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health confirms the newly-detected Covid-19 case. Photo: Tu Trung

Mr. Binh said that the man returned from Hai Duong's Nam Sach district and is a cousin of a confirmed patient there.

The patient went to a wedding in Hai Duong together with the cousin on January 18, without wearing face masks. He later had a cough, headache and lost his sense of smell.

He flew to Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam Airlines flight VN213 that took off at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport on January 28.

When landing Ho Chi Minh City and learning about the latest Covid-19 outbreak in Hai Duong province, the patient reported his travel and contact history to the authorities.

He was quarantined at the District 11 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, before being transferred to the Cu Chi field hospital once his tests returned positive.

On the VN213 flight, 27 passengers were seated close to him, including 16 from Ho Chi Minh City. Two have yet been reached by the authorities.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities have placed a hotel and a restaurant in District 11 on lockdown in connection to the man.

At the time of writing, Vietnam has registered 1,739 cases, including 180 from the current outbreak which emerged from January 28.