The Da Nang authorities will disclose coronavirus infected cases in the city if any.

The statement was released by Mrs Ngo Thi Kim Yen, Director of the municipal Department of Health, at a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with representatives from relevant local agencies.

Director Yen said, up to now, the city's healthcare sector has put 37 people with high fever in quarantine for coronavirus infection tests. They are 20 Vietnamese people, and 17 foreigners, mainly from China, Malaysia, and the Czech Republic.

She added the throat swabs and blood serum samples of 15 out of the 37 were sent to the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute to test for the coronavirus. As a result, the tests showed that all of them were not infected with the pneumonia virus that has spread across China since December last year.

"The blood samples of other 16 suspected coronavirus-affected people have been sent to test for the coronavirus" Mrs Yen remarked.

The leader of the municipal of Department of Health suggested people should avoid contact with people displaying signs of flu, as well as keep their hands away from their nose and mouth, and wash their hands regularly.

The public has been urged to wear masks in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading.

Mrs Yen said "If you're in a high-risk group and are experiencing symptoms like fever, chills and body aches, you should go to the nearest medical facility for treatment".

For more information about the new coronavirus, please contact Mr Doan Ngoc Hung Anh, Chief of the Office of the municipal National Assembly - People’s Council - People’s Committee Secretariat,  via 0914005079, and Deputy Director of Department of Health Nguyen Tien Hong via 0905141567.

By PHAN CHUNG - Translated by MAI DUNG