A person from Latvia was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Vietnam on Sunday, according to test results returned by the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City.

The new patient was born in 1987 and comes from Latvia.

He has become the 54th COVID-19 patient in the Southeast Asian country.

He is vacationing in Vietnam. He has visited Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province, located in the southern part of the country, with no pre-existing conditions.

On March 8, the Latvian and his wife, born in 1988, arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on board flight TK162 from Spain.

He boarded flight QH1521 to fly to Phu Quoc on March 9 and stayed at La Nube Residence until March 13.

He flew back to Ho Chi Minh City aboard flight QH1524 on Friday and stayed at hotels in District 1 and District 4.

At 4:00 pm on Saturday, he showed symptoms of a fever and went to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases for a check.

His test returned positive the same day.

His sample was then sent to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, where he was confirmed to be infected with the virus on Sunday night.

Health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are calling for all passengers on board the flights TK162, QH1521, and QH1524 to contact local medical centers or dial 0869577133 for help.  

Those in contact with the passengers are advised to get in touch with the nearest healthcare facilities for a check and further assistance.

Vietnam has confirmed 54 COVID-19 cases so far, with 16 having fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital by February 26.

Nine patients are being treated in Hanoi, three in Da Nang, and five in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Southeast Asian country treats Vietnamese patients for free.

It has announced that foreign patients have to pay for their treatment although their testing and quarantine fees are still waived.

No mortality has been reported in Vietnam to date.

Vietnam now bans arrivals from the Schengen Area and UK and suspends its visa-on-arrival policy for all foreigners.

The new policy will be in effect for 30 days from 12:00 pm Sunday, March 15, and will not affect arrivals for diplomatic or official purposes.

Vietnam will consider stop issuing tourist visas to visitors from the U.S. on a state-by-state basis, depending on the development of the epidemic in that country.

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