An officer in a medical mask in Changi Airport, Singapore. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore has discussed with Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport Management Board on arranging flights to bring Vietnamese citizens home at an appropriate time, amid the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.

According to correspondents of Việt Nam News Agency in Singapore, a group of 35 Vietnamese, mostly students, were stuck at Changi Airport because their flight to Việt Nam was cancelled without notice.

According to the schedule, these Vietnamese citizens were due to leave Singapore for HCM City on flight SQ178 on Monday morning.

However, Singapore Airlines announced their flight was cancelled, asking passengers to take care of themselves.

Tào Thị Thanh Hương, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore, said the Vietnamese Embassy immediately sent an urgent dispatch to Singapore Airlines to take appropriate measures to support Vietnamese citizens while waiting for a new flight.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore has also contacted the authorities in Việt Nam to have a plan to welcome these citizens.

These citizens are waiting at the Changi Airport and would fly on Tuesday morning, according to ambassador Hương.

Hà Tuấn Anh, a student from the US, among a group of the citizens present at the airport, said everyone was worried but quickly gathered to support each other and called for help from the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore.

Regarding the situation of the Vietnamese community in Singapore amid the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in the island nation, with 509 cases as of March 23,  the ambassador said the embassy urged Vietnamese citizens to stay calm, not to panic but protect themselves from the epidemic and follow guidance and update regulations in the host countries and airlines, ensure enough documentation to take flights, especially medical certificates if needed.

To date, no Vietnamese in Singapore have been infected with SARS-CoV-2.

The Government of Singapore has now announced that all short-term visitors will no longer be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore from 11.59pm on Monday in view of the heightened risks of importing coronavirus cases into the country.

Citizens who have plans to enter or transit in Singapore are recommended to adjust their travel itinerary accordingly. — VNS