Geneva (VNA) – Vietnam’sdiplomatic mission in Switzerland have launched measures to assist Vietnamesecitizens in Switzerland in coping with the COVID-19 epidemic in line withguidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local authorities.

The Vietnamese mission to the UnitedNations, the WTO and other international organisations in Geneva has devisedplans and assigned specific tasks to staff members in responding to emergencysituations, such as taking Vietnamese nationals to hospital, repatriatingcitizens, or support the Vietnamese community.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of Vietnam in Berncontinues to issue updates to the Vietnamese community about new developmentsof the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rapid spread of the pandemic in Switzerlandhas prompted many airlines to cancel flights from the Central European nation,making it more difficult for Vietnamese citizens, particularly students, toreturn home.

The Vietnamese Embassy has urged Vietnamesecitizens to closely follow regulations issued by Swiss authorities and healthofficials, as well as avoid crowds, stay at home and only go outside ifnecessary.

They are advised to contact the COVID-19hotline for advice if they suspect they have contracted the disease, and keep aclose eye on their flight status if they’re coming back to Vietnam.

They can contact airline ticket agentEuroAsia at Konizstrasse 228, 3097 Liebefeld (Bern) or call the company at 031971 9787 and 079 222 4228 for information provided in Vietnamese on flights toVietnam.

As of March 19, the number of COVID-19cases in Switzerland had surged to nearly 4,000. The country has decided tosuspend visa issuance from March 19 to June 15, and close its borders withItaly, Germany, Austria and France./.