Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are looking for people who have been to a local bar in the last two weeks as a British man had attended a party there before he was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) this week.

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Saturday afternoon that authorities are calling on customers who have visited the Buddha Bar&Grill at No. 7 Thao Dien Street in Thao Dien Ward, District 2 within the past 14 days to urgently contact the nearest local health authority for medical checkups and instructions on infection prevention.

In addition, all persons who may have been in contact with customers of the bar within the past 14 days and are currently present in Vietnam are also advised to contact the nearest local health authority for the same purposes.

Those who live in Ho Chi Minh City can reach the hotline numbers of district health centers or the CDC for support and instructions.

The announcement was made after the center had confirmed that a Saint Patrick's Day party was organized at Buddha Bar&Grill on March 14, before the venue was ordered to close for COVID-19 prevention.

Vietnam's Patient No. 91, a 43-year-old British man who works as a pilot for national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and resides in District 2, was among the attendees of the event.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City began to close all cinemas, clubs and bars, massage parlors, karaoke shops, and online game centers from 6:00 pm March 15, one day after the party was held.

The closures will last until the end of March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Vietnam has confirmed 92 cases of COVID-19 infections so far, with 17 having fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital by Friday.

No death has been reported in the country so far.

Ho Chi Minh City currently has 23 patients confirmed to be carrying the virus.

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