Da Nang's transport sector has been active in supporting the city's efforts to combat Covid-19.

Passenger transport services in the city are banned. In the photo is a scene of the city-based inter-provincial coach station.

Da Nang Department of Transport Director Le Van Trung said that all agency members of his department have put in place drastic precautionary measures for safety, in tandem with full deployment of workforce and material resources to support the city in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

In regards to roadways, from 28 July, a ban has been imposed on the operation of fixed passenger coaches to and from the city-based coach stations, taxi services, contracted vehicles, and intra-city and inter-provincial bus services connecting Da Nang with its neighbouring localities of Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces, and inland waterway passenger transport activities.

Specialised vehicles used for infection prevention tasks, or to transport food, necessities, production materials, workers and experts for companies are allowed to operate as normal, provided that their travel plans must be reported to functional local bodies.

However, to be eligible to run on roads, these specialised vehicles must not fill more than half of available seats, and the total number of passengers on each trip must not be more than 20.

Also, passengers are required to maintain at least two metre distance from others.  All people on these vehicles must wear face coverings, wash their hands and use hand sanitizer, and declare their health status before boarding.

Inter-provincial passenger coaches nationwide which run through Da Nang on their itinerary are banned to park in the city to pick-up or drop-off their passengers. 

As for railways, domestic trains to/from the Da Nang railway station are now prohibited.

Mr Pham Loi, the Deputy General Director of Da Nang Transportation and Bus Station Management Joint Stock Company, no departures from the city’s inter-provincial coach station have been permitted under the city authorities-demanded regulations.

Meanwhile, very special heed has always given to ensuring ultimate safety for their staff at the workplace. 

With regard to basic rules, all the employees are required wear face coverings at all times while in the workplace, maintain at least two metre distance from others and make regular health declarations. 

At present, all mobile vehicle load checking stations and such driving training establishments citywide as the Masco, 579 and STC, plus the Vocational Training Junior College No 5 under the Ministry of Defence, have their operations halted temporarily.

Recently, as per request of the municipal Police Department, the municipal Department of Transport has assigned its traffic inspection forces to checkpoints set up in major entry/exit points in the city.

Notably, in recent days, the transport sector has also used dozens of vehicles for the transportation of those who are in contacts with laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases to the designated quarantine facilities.

By THANH LAN –Translated by A.T