The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has just issued Decision No. 170/QD-BGTVT dated September 30, 2021 to temporarily restore passenger transport activities via airways, maritime and inland waterways, roadways and railways after localities nationwide where social distancing rules were eased, provided safety measures against COVID-19 must be put in place.

The Ministry of Transport has just allowed aviation activities to temporarily resume operations in localities where the social distancing rules were eased, provided safety measures against COVID-19 must be put in place. Photo: THANH LAN

The Decision officially took effect from October 1.

Specifically, in localities/regions with a very high risk of COVID-19 transmission, a ban is still imposed on public passenger transportation services (except for taxis, tech apps-based vehicles with less than 9 seats with partitions amongst passengers, and electronic payment).

In case a passenger transporting vehicles with mandatory journeys pass through very high-risk localities/regions, they are not permitted to stop there.

Airports and railway stations are allowed to operate to handle passengers and must ensure the strict practice of COVID-19 prevention and control requirements.

The staff of airports and railway stations must receive the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines after 3 weeks and test for SARS-CoV-2 on a weekly basis by the RT-PCR or rapid antigen testing methods.

No testing is required for those who have had the full 2-dose course or have recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months.

In high-risk localities/region, public transport means via maritime and inland waterways, roadways and railways are allowed to operate at less than or equal to 50% of their capacity per trip or the number of seats.

For airways, rules on separate operating frequency will be applied.

In low and medium-risk localities/regions, vehicles are allowed to operate as normal.

All passengers using transport activities via airways, maritime and inland waterways, roadways and railways shall stay highly compliant with the 5K recommendations initiated by the Vietnamese Health Ministry, namely khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering), and khai bao y te (health declaration).

At the same time, they must have negative SARS-CoV-2 test results within 72 hours by the RT-PCR or rapid antigen testing techniques.

Passengers travelling by air, train and waterway will not be required to take COVID-19 tests if they have been fully vaccinated, injected the first shots for 3 weeks, or recovered from the disease within 6 months.

Reporting by THANH LAN – Translating by A.T