Customs officers in An Giang Province have increased inspections of import and export activities and transport of goods at the border.    — VNA/VNS Photo Công Mạo

MEKONG DELTA — Border provinces in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta have tightened pandemic prevention measures at the border with Cambodia which has recorded its first case of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

Omicron is being rapidly transmitted in South Africa and has already been found in dozens of countries worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The likelihood of further spread of the new variant at the global level is very high.

Colonel Đoàn Văn An, who is Political Commissar of the Border Guard Command in Long An Province, told Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper that the province is tightening pandemic control along its 133km-long border with Cambodia. 

Besides 12 border guard stations, the province has 36 pandemic checkpoints, six mobile patrol teams, four working groups and three mobile working groups.

He called on all border guards to uphold the spirit of protecting the border to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant. 

"We must have frequent patrols to prevent both illegal entry and smuggling. Above all, people crossing the border should not create disease transmission risks,” he said.

All border guard stations are regularly providing news updates and informing the public about pandemic preventive measures.

Phạm Thiện Nghĩa, chairman of Đồng Tháp Province’s People’s Committee, said local forces have increased patrols along the 50km-long border with Cambodia.

“The forces are required to conduct regular patrols at the border areas, especially at night,” he said.

Lê Văn Phước, deputy chairman of An Giang Province’s People’s Committee, said pandemic control and prevention measures have been strengthened at the border. Local border guards in collaboration with the police and military forces are providing stricter control and management at border areas, roads, trails and openings.

Trade activities through the province's two international border gates are being strictly controlled.

Hà Văn Phúc, director of Kiên Giang Province’s Department of Health, said the province has tightened control and the tracing of people at entry sites to prevent the spread of the coronavirus across the border.

People returning from Cambodia can choose to be quarantined at home, hotels or concentrated quarantine facilities. — VNS