Passengers from HCM City to Hà Nội on a late Monday flight. A number of domestic flights have resumed on a pilot basis. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội has allowed passengers to quarantine at home or their place of residence following concerns over its earlier seven-day concentrated quarantine requirement for those arriving from HCM City, regardless of their vaccination or recovery status.

The Hà Nội People’s Committee on October 11 issued Document No.3487/UBND-DT on the pilot resumption of regular domestic flights to and from the capital city.

Accordingly, passengers who meet all criteria by the ministries of transport and health will be put under quarantine at home and follow COVID-19 prevention and control measures in line with the State and city’s regulations.

The Hà Nội  authorities also asked the Ministry of Transport to direct its units to work closely with departments and agencies of Hà Nội , cities and provinces concerned in the process of bringing passengers to and from Nội Bài international airport, ensuring safety in pandemic prevention and control.

The municipal Health Department was assigned to acquire passengers’ information and work with airport authorities and airlines to take epidemiological control over them in line with anti-pandemic regulations.

At 5pm the same day, Vietnam Airlines’ VNA216 flight departed from HCM City to Hà Nội , carrying nearly 120 passengers on wide-body Boeing 787. It was the first commercial flight between HCM City and Hà Nội  after several domestic routes reopened a day earlier.

They all confirmed the host quarantine establishments before departure, tested negative to SARS-CoV-2, received enough vaccine shots, filled out health declarations and followed 5K regulations.

Also on October 11, the People’s Committee of the northern city of Hải Phòng issued Document No.7611/UBND-VX on the control of passengers to and from Cát Bi international airport when domestic commercial flights are resumed.

Accordingly, they will be exempt from concentrated quarantine. Those from high-risk areas must isolate themselves at home for a week, and test for SARS-CoV-2 using the RT-PCR method every Monday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, those from at-risk or new normal areas must oversee their health for two weeks and test for SARS-CoV-2 using the RT-PCR method every Saturday.

All testing and other costs will be covered by themselves.

So far, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has resumed two-way flights between Hà Nội  and HCM City and Đà Nẵng, between HCM City and Hải Phòng, Vinh, Thanh Hóa, Quy Nhơn, Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Đồng Hới, Nha Trang, Tuy Hòa, Phú Quốc. The flights between HCM City and Rạch Giá of Cà Mau are run by VASCO, a member of Vietnam Airlines Group. — VNS