After three weeks of no new virus cases in February, the majority of Vietnam’s 60 new cases have been linked to foreign tourists.

As a consequence, many Vietnamese have grown fearful of foreigners, and some restaurants, hotels and shops are refusing to serve non-locals, according to VnExpress.

The news source revealed how numerous tourists have faced issues such as being denied entry to already-booked hotels, while one tourist in Ninh Binh was refused accommodation by six separate hotels in the area. Some hotels are refusing bookings from foreigners altogether, as hosting a guest infected with Covid-19 will lead to quarantines and financial losses.

Vietnam’s authorities are taking the issue seriously in an attempt to maintain the nation’s reputation. VnExpress adds that local officials in central Vietnam’s tourist hotspots have asked restaurants and hotels to remain welcoming to foreign tourists.

According to Vietnam News, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said that any discrimination against foreigners will be punished, and called on all local authorities across the nation to address the issue by speaking with tourism establishments.

Vietnam remains in the midst of virus paranoia with a growing number of cases announced each week. At the time of writing, the total number of cases in Vietnam has reached 76 after ten new cases were announced by Vietnam’s health ministry yesterday.