Hanoi (VNA) – All tourist sites in the central province of Quang Tri will betemporarily closed to visitors from March 18 as part of the local effort to preventthe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading.

All historicaland cultural relics and tourist attractions will remain closed until furthernotice, according to a decision signed by Vice Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Hoang Nam.

The provincehas also extended the closure of kindergartens and elementary andmiddle schools for another week, from March 16 – 23.

Quang Tri had reported no COVID-19 infection as ofMarch 15. The province has strengthened capacity for local medical workers andupgraded healthcare facilities for the epidemic prevention and control whilecustoms and medical authorities have tightened control at border gates on people enteringVietnam.

The MekongDelta province of Kien Giang also considers barring foreign visitors to theresort island of Phu Quoc after atourist from Latvia, who had stayed on the island, tested positive for the coronavirus last week.

Phu Quoc authoritiesare locating all people whohad close contact with the Latviantourist for compulsoryquarantine, and has suspendedoperation of its popular night market and all karaoke and massage parlourswhile all schools have been shut down since the beginning of this week untilfurther notice.

Vice Chairmanof the provincial People’s Committee Do Thanh Binh has ordered all people towear masks at bus and train stations and other public places, and fill onlinehealth declarations.

Quarantinefacilities must be located far from residential areas while there must be nodiscrimination between the locals and foreigners at these facilities, Binh saidin a meeting with Phu Quoc’s administration on March 15 evening.

Vietnam hasconfirmed 57 infections as of March 15 with 17 being foreigners. Sixteen patients have been completelycured./.