Hanoi (VNA) - Citizen protection in areas affected by the COVID-19outbreak is one of the top priorities of the Vietnamese Government, the ForeignMinistry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang told a regular press conference in Hanoion March 5.

Hang said the Foreign Ministry and Vietnamese representative agencies have activelyand proactively launched measures to support and protect Vietnamese citizensliving, studying, working and travelling abroad, especially in epidemic-hitareas.

The Foreign Ministry actively updated information and warned Vietnamesecitizens not to travel to affected areas. They also advised Vietnamese peopleliving in the affected areas to follow guidelines and directions by the hostauthorities, and avoid taking unnecessary trips.

In coordination with ministries, agencies and localities, the Foreign Ministrydirected Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to work closely with thehost authorities, asked Vietnamese embassies to regularly provide news about effortson disease prevention and control, ensuring that medical care will be providedfor infected persons and mitigating issues that negatively impact Vietnamesecitizens.

Vietnamese representative agencies abroad have launched hotlinesround-the-clock, particularly in affected areas to offer instructions and stayready to support citizens if necessary, she said.

As for infected Vietnamese citizens abroad, Vietnamese representative agenciesare required to regularly contact and ask the host authorities to offertreatment. At present, Vietnamese patients are in stable conditions.

About the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s dispatch of three quick-response teams toVietnam to help Korean citizens under medical supervision, Hang affirmed thatthe Vietnamese agencies concerned will directly handle the RoK’s request.

According to Hang,Vietnam still regularly shares information and creates favourable conditionsfor the RoK to conduct citizen protection measures in line with Vietnam andinternational law and practices./.