HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam continues implementing drastic measures and joint efforts to prevent and control the acute respiratory outbreak of COVID-19.

At a meeting on Wednesday morning, members of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control agreed that strict monitoring of people entering the country at this time was a must.

It's expected that starting from Friday (March 13), new requirements will demand that passengers on all Việt Nam-based airlines must wear face masks, and so should all passengers travelling through airports across the country, according to deputy transport minister Lê Anh Tuấn.

If passengers do not have masks, airport staff will be responsible with providing them free of charge, Tuấn said.

All incoming travellers – both Vietnamese and foreigners must also declare their health condition.

Those who submit false information on their health declaration would be strictly punished in accordance with Việt Nam’s laws and regulations.

Foreigners entering Việt Nam are subject to both international and Việt Nam’s legal regulations, a representative from Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, emphasising that without reporting accurate health status, the visitors could face fines and even criminal penalties if their actions led to serious disease spread in community.

Việt Nam highly recommends passengers of foreign airlines wear face masks too. Free face masks would be available at Việt Nam’s airports.

The committee asked international airports' operators to arrange separate spaces for those who are in transit.

Anyone suspected of showing symptoms must not be allowed to enter the country.

Public transport drivers, especially taxi drivers at the airports must wear face masks too.

Concentrated quarantine

According to the steering committee, 14-day-long concentrated quarantine would still be applied to people suspected of carrying the virus SARS-CoV-2 and those who have been in close contact with COVID-19 infected persons.

Ministry of Health is requested to instruct agencies and localities on concentrated quarantine, especially on reducing density at quarantine centres.

Accordingly, suspected people who are at quarantine centres for three days and tested negative could be self-isolated at home.

When at home, they must continue submiting health declarations online and would be checked by the local authority.

The health ministry was also asked to deliver instructions on disinfecting homes, schools and offices to ensure effectiveness, avoid waste and prevent panic among the public.

Thirty-eight COVID-9 cases were confirmed in Việt Nam as of Wednesday morning, with 16 first cases reported from January 23 to February 13 recovered. The other 19 cases including 8 Vietnamese and 11 foreigners were reported from March 6 to March 11. — VNS