Vietnam from March 15 will suspend the entry of visitors from the UK and 26 Schengen countries, a move to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

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The decision will also be effective for visitors traveling across those areas within 14 days preceding their expected entry into Vietnam and Vietnamese nationals of dual citizenship or Vietnam-born citizens from those countries.

The suspension of visa upon arrival for all foreign nationals will be effective from 12:00 pm, March 15 for 30 days, and not be applicable to entrants for diplomatic or official purposes, the ministry said on its website.

Foreigners who are experts, business managers, highly skilled workers entering Vietnam will be medical checked and quarantine shall be applied in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

Vietnam has informed all diplomatic missions, consular offices and representative offices of international organizations in the country of the decision.

Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases in major European countries as of March 14. Source: Johns Hopkins. Chart: Linh Pham

Earlier this week, Vietnam decided to halt the visa waiver program for visitors from eight European countries like Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the UK, France, Germany, and Spain following the increase in the infections in those countries.

To prevent the spread of the epidemic, Vietnam has suspended visa-free entry for South Koreans from February 29, for Italians and Vietnamese-Koreans from March 7, according to Thanh Nien newspaper.

As of March 14, Vietnam has confirmed 53 people infected with SARS-CoV-2, including 20 cases related to the infection sourced from the UK.