The Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam (CAAV) is asking nationwide airports to intensify measures to control COVID-19 in line with the guidance from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport.

Aviation service providers must make sure that their employees get tested for SARS-CoV-2 in line with the recommendations from the Ministry of Health. All units operating at nationwide airports are urged to immediately report any COVID-19 cases and their contacts at their facility to local authorities and health agency to seek medical advice and requirements in a bid to prevent the further spread of the virus. PCR testing and health declaration are compulsory for all primary close contacts of confirmed cases.

CAAV also requires airlines to tighten controls and keep a close watch on their passengers coming to Viet Nam from African countries or go through countries in Africa, and those from countries where the omicron variant has been found in an attempt to reduce the chance of such passengers to bring the new COVID-19 variant to the country.

Previously, CAAV had asked the Ministry of Transport to suspend international flights to Viet Nam, including relief flights, from 10 African countries, namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola and Zambia. In addition, Viet Nam should impose an entry ban on travellers who have passed through these countries in the previous 30 days.

It also wanted all passengers coming from countries and territories where the Omicron variant has been detected to be quarantined upon arrival in Viet Nam.

The omicron Covid-19 variant, first detected by South African scientists, has spread to dozens of countries globally including the U.S., Germany, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

The World Health Organization has labelled omicron a “variant of concern” due to a large number of mutations that could make it more contagious.

No cases of the new coronavirus variant have been confirmed in Viet Nam but the country is seeing a steady rise in Delta infections.

Viet Nam plans to resume international flights in early 2022, but the Ministry of Transport has said the emergence of Omicron could throw a wrench in the works.

Reporting by PHUONG UYEN – Translating by H.L