The decision noted that the epidemic began on January 23 with the first two confirmed infection cases to be a pair of Chinese father and son. The scope of the epidemic was identified in three provinces of Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa and Vinh Phuc.

The total number of nCoV infections in Vietnam is six, including two Chinese, three Vietnamese returning from China’s Wuhan city, and a receptionist at a hotel in Khanh Hoa province.

nCoV is classified as a Class A contagious disease, a group of extremely dangerous infectious diseases that can transmit very rapidly and spread widely with high mortality rates, including the likes of influenza A-H5N1, SARs, Ebola or smallpox.

At the national teleconference held in Hanoi on Feb. 1, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, who is head of the national steering committee for prevention and control of the acute respiratory disease caused by new coronavirus (nCoV) said Vietnam has been all set for the fight against the novel coronavirus that is sweeping all over the world.

He stressed that prevention of the deadly virus is a mission of top priority of the Party Committee at all levels, fatherland front, and organisations.

The Health Ministry confirmed a new case of nCoV infection on February 1, raising the total number of infections of the new coronavirus in Vietnam to six. They include two Chinese, three Vietnamese returning from China’s Wuhan city, and a receptionist.

Also on Feb. 1, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has announced that all permits granted for flights between Việt Nam and China (including Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau) have been temporarily revoked, effective starting 1pm the same day until further notice.

According to the ministry, the number of nCoV infections in the world rose to 11,949 as of 8:30 on February 1, with 11,791 cases in China. The death toll increased to 259, all in China.

Earlier, the World Health Organisation declared the nCoV epidemic in China as a global health emergency of international concern./.