Passengers who are fully vaccinated or have had one vaccine within three weeks of travel, will not have to take COVID-19 tests under new proposals. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health has proposed allowing passengers to travel by air, train and waterways without negative COVID-19 tests, if they are travelling after three weeks being injected with the first vaccine or have recovered from the disease within six months.

The ministry made the suggestion in a document sent to the Ministry of Transport, commenting on a draft plan to resume passenger transport activities in localities where pandemic prevention measures have been eased. 

As per the document, businesses operating passenger transport services will be asked to have plans in place for COVID-19 prevention and control as well as for tackling infection cases in line with regulations. They should have medical staff or a medical unit coordinate with local health authorities to handle infection cases at the workplace.

The Ministry of Health proposed resuming public transport by road, train, inland waterway, and at sea in low- and medium-risk localities and regions; operate at or under 50 per cent of their capacity in high-risk areas; and stop operations in extremely high-risk areas (except for taxi and app-based vehicles that offer less than nine seats and use vehicle partition and electronic payment).

Public transport vehicles must be equipped with hand sanitizers and face masks and be disinfected frequently, with their drivers and staff following the 5K principle and taking COVID-19 tests right after developing suspected symptoms. —  VNS