The Vietnamese government has sealed off a commune of 10,600 people in Hanoi to contain the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).

Province considered epicentre of the virus

According to the largest newspaper in the country Tuoi Tre News, authorities in the northern Vietnamese province of Vinh Phuc had quarantined the entire Son Loi Commune, as half of the province's Covid-19 patients reside there.

Vinh Phuc is reportedly the epicentre of the the Covid-10 outbreak in Vietnam, as 10 out of the country's 15 confirmed cases are in the province.

The lockdown, starting from Thursday, Feb. 13, will last for 14 days.

The measure was introduced after a three-month-old infant was diagnosed with the virus, VnExpress reported.

Free face masks for residents

Le Duy Thanh, vice-chairman of the provincial People's Committee, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) the measure was necessary to protect the health of local residents.

Local authorities have reportedly set up more stalls to provide food and distributed free face masks to the residents in the commune.

In addition, each resident in the commune would receive VND40,000 (S$2.38) daily, and an extra VND60,000 (S$3.57) for each quarantined household, while the commune is being sealed off.

The Vietnamese government pays for the treatment of all Covid-19 patients in the country.

Schools in the commune also remain closed until Feb. 23.

15 cases in Vietnam so far

The 15 cases in Vietnam include 12 Vietnamese, one Vietnamese-American, and two Chinese nationals.

The Covid-19 had spread to Vietnam by a group of eight workers who travelled back from the Chinese city of Wuhan on Jan. 17, according to VnExpress.

Out of the seven cases that have recovered, three were reported to be from Vinh Phuc.

Vietnam declared the outbreak an epidemic on Feb. 1.

Top image by NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images