A medical worker sprays disinfectant at a concentrated quarantine center. The Ministry of Health has confirmed 20 new Covid-19 cases, including 12 imported cases and eight locally-transmitted ones - PHPOTO: VNA

HCMC - The Ministry of Health has confirmed 12 new imported Covid-19 cases and eight locally-transmitted ones, taking the country’s tally to 2,962 as of tonight, May 2.

The 12 imported cases, including three women and nine men, were immediately quarantined in Dong Nai, Can Tho, Danang and Khanh Hoa after their arrival from Japan, the Philippines and Russia on April 17, 18, 23, 24 and 28.

Two locally-infected cases reported in Ha Nam Province had close contact with previously confirmed Covid-19 cases in the province. They are being treated at the national hospital for tropical diseases in Hanoi City.

Six other community-transmitted cases were reported in Vinh Phuc Province. They are employees at a karaoke shop in the province’s Phuc Yen City who had close contact with a group of Chinese experts traveling to the province after completing their quarantine period from April 9 to 23 in Yen Bai Province. The six are receiving treatment at the national hospital for tropical diseases.

In related news, the Ministry of Health has proposed suspending non-essential services, including bars, pubs, and karaoke parlors nationwide to prevent the potential spread of Covid-19.

Besides, the ministry said in a telegram issued today that the provinces and cities should cancel crowded events and impose harsh sanctions on people wearing no face masks in public.

Many provinces and cities such as Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, Nam Dinh, Haiphong, Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Hanoi and HCMC have temporarily closed many non-essential services, the local media reported.