Passengers wearing face masks are seen at Noi Bai International Airport

Vice chairman of Hanoi City Ngo Van Quy said the prime minister had given this guidance at a meeting in Hanoi on March 16 as the country is intensifying its coronavirus infection prevention and control effort.

The planned move came after a wave of new coronavirus infections in the country had resulted from imported cases. When an official decision on the visa suspension is made remains unknown.

The central Government earlier decided to deny entry to tourists who come from or have traveled through the United Kingdom, the Schengen zone and Northern Ireland over the past 14 days.

Quy said the prime minister also ordered all cities and provinces to restrict mass gatherings, especially at karaoke bars, dance clubs and pubs.

Vietnam will continue using three types of quarantine: quarantine centers run by the military, self-isolation at home and quarantine in groups for foreign specialists and those holding diplomat passports.

The Government will also provide healthcare workers and better food for quarantine centers, ensure quarantine facilities that can accommodate 5,000-6,000 people at a time and provide more equipment for quarantine centers.

The eight recent flights to Vietnam on which some passengers had been confirmed as positive for the coronavirus departed from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul and Moscow. Imported coronavirus cases in Vietnam came from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Malaysia, South Korea and China, according to the Ministry of Health. SGT