A man and woman from northern Vietnam are being investigated after violating COVID-19 prevention and control regulations and spreading the disease to three individuals.

The People’s Procuracy in Bac Ninh City under Bac Ninh Province on Thursday approved the decision to initiate legal proceedings against Nguyen Van Quy, 31, and his girlfriend – 34-year-old Nguyen Thi Phuong – for “spreading dangerous contagious diseases to others.”

Quy hails from Bac Ninh City while Phuong is from Song Lo District, Vinh Phuc Province.

He was previously probed for disrupting public order at a COVID-19 checkpoint on June 11.

According to officers, authorities in Bac Ninh City tightened pandemic prevention and control regulations from May 24, requiring residents to only go outside when necessary and stay home after 8:00 pm daily.

On May 26, Phuong traveled from Hanoi to Bac Ninh City by motorbike taxi, before being picked up by Quy and taken to his house in Dai Phuc Ward.

Quy began suffering body aches on June 3 but did not sign up for a COVID-19 test.

The couple visited a motel at 11:00 pm on June 9.

On the following day, Quy visited one of his friends in the city before reaching a COVID-19 checkpoint in Kinh Bac Ward on his way home.

After being asked to present his personal documents, the man aggressively resisted while threatening officers at the checkpoint.

He went on to insult the officers and block the roadway with his motorcycle.

Quy was eventually taken to a local police station and later tested positive for COVID-19.

He refused to cooperate authorities during the epidemiological investigation.

Among his 71 direct contacts, Phuong and another person were later confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus.

Two others who came into close contact with Phuong on June 10 and 11 also contracted the virus.

Officers stated that Phuong had traveled to multiple locations despite being aware of pandemic prevention and control regulations in Bac Ninh City.

In accordance with the Penal Code, punishments for spreading dangerous contagious diseases to others range from a VND50-200 million (US$2,160-8,670) fine to jail terms lasting one to 12 years.

Vietnam had documented 14,116 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday afternoon, with 5,684 recoveries and 70 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 10,820 local infections in 45 provinces and cities since a new outbreak began on April 27.

Bac Ninh Province has the third most cases in this bout, with a total of 1,554.

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