Authorities in Dong Thap Province, located in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, are looking for three Chinese nationals who ran away from a local quarantine center following their illegal entry.
The three Chinese men, namely Liu Xue, 30, Luo Ye Wu, 21, and Luo Dong Liang, 34, entered Vietnam illegally from Cambodia and were taken to the quarantine facility in Dong Thap Province on October 6.
They had tested negative for the novel coronavirus once before escaping from the quarantine center on October 16.
Officers under the provincial Department of Police have been looking for the three foreigners but have yet to find them.
The Dong Thap Department of Health issued an urgent document on Monday, asking relevant agencies in all districts, towns, and cities in the province to continue searching for the Chinese men and quarantine them in accordance with regulations.
Local authorities have tightened security at local quarantine facilities and along the border to prevent similar incidents from happening.
In accordance with Vietnamese law, entering the country without going through immigration procedures is punishable by a VND3-5 million (US$130-215) fine.
Anyone dodging mandatory quarantine shall be fined VND5-10 million ($215-430) and will be criminally charged if they spread COVID-19 to others.
This article was originally published in Tuoitrenews