Tests for coronavirus on 273 Vietnamese citizens arriving in Da Nang from Malaysia on a specially-arranged Vietnam Airlines flight VN674 have come back negative, Director of the municipal Centre for Disease Control Ton That Thanh announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The returnees are Vietnamese citizens who study, work and live in Malaysia, returning home due to Covid-19.

Dr Thanh said the throat swabs and blood serum samples of all passengers and flight crews were taken to test for the virus immediately after they were quarantined in city’s designated site last Sunday.

Director Thanh remarked although their test results showed negative, all of them remain under observation in the city's designated sites for 14 days.

Medical staff will closely monitor all of them during their 14-day quarantine period, including by checking their body temperature at least twice daily, requiring them to gargle with salt water, to keep the hands, foot and face clean to prevent the spread of infections.

Mr Thanh also said that the returnees will be tested for the virus again at least two days before they complete their quarantine period in the city.

By PHAN CHUNG - Translated by MAI DUNG