Vietnamese border jumper investigated over spread of COVID-19
Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 13:08 GMT+7
A Vietnamese COVID-19 patient who previously entered the country illegally has been probed for spreading the disease to other people.
The Department of Public Security in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long on Tuesday initiated legal proceedings against L.Th.T., 33., who is Vietnam’s COVID-19 patient No. 1,440, for “spreading dangerous infectious disease to others,” according to Article 240 of the Penal Code.
Investigators said T. and eight other people entered Vietnam illegally from Cambodia via a trail in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on the early morning of December 24.
They were then divided into two groups and got in two automobiles to travel to other localities.
The first group, which consisted of three people, headed to Chau Doc City in An Giang Province and Ho Chi Minh City.
The second group, which included T. and five others, went to the Mekong Delta province of Long An and Ho Chi Minh City.
T. then headed to his hometown in Vinh Long Province, before his family members reported to competent authorities regarding his illicit entry.
The man was brought to a local quarantine center and tested positive for the novel coronavirus on December 26.
He was confirmed as the country’s COVID-19 patient No. 1,440 by the Ministry of Health on December 27.
Three other people among these border jumpers have also been confirmed as COVID-19 patients No. 1,451, 1,452, and 1,453.
Two of them reside in Ho Chi Minh City, while the other lives in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.
Police in An Giang Province have launched an investigation into the case and arrested five suspects for organizing for people to enter Vietnam against the law.
T. has been treated at Vinh Long Lung Hospital for 26 days, according to the provincial Department of Health.
He had tested positive for the novel coronavirus for 11 consecutive times, before his 12th test came back negative on January 15.
However, he tested positive for the virus again on Tuesday.
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