Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered a thorough review of all entrants – Vietnamese and foreigners alike – into Viet Nam since March 8 to discover COVID-19 infection cases and prevent community spread.

Spraying disinfectant at Van Don international airport in Quang Ninh Province

The public security minister and leaders of all provinces and cities were tasked with directing the implementation of the review and making sure that the works is finished before 12pm on March 25.

The order was part of a range of orders finalised and released Tuesday following yesterday's cabinet meeting as Viet Nam saw a soaring number of coronavirus-positive cases – mostly imported – since earlier this month.

PM Phuc has also asked that the transport ministry come up with measures to “minimise” or reduce the frequency of inbound flights into Viet Nam – even those carried out by foreign airlines. The ministry was also asked to co-ordinate with the defence ministry, foreign ministry, health ministry and public security ministry to organise flights into Viet Nam in a way that can avoid causing overloading to concentrated quarantine sites in the country.

Flights landing at Noi Bai international airport in Ha Noi and Tan Son Nhat international airport in HCM City – the country’s biggest and busiest airports – will be heavily restricted, according to the notice.

Regarding arrivals via land border checkpoints with Cambodia and Laos, the defence ministry, health ministry and border provinces’ governments are asked to swiftly arrange sufficient space and accommodation for quarantine purposes.

The Government leader has also asked for strict punishments – including legal measures in line with the law – for all those who fail to declare their health status, purposely misstated their health status, dodged compulsory quarantine or flouted quarantine protocols.

The defence ministry is tasked to be the main co-ordinator of all concentrated quarantine sites in the country, even those run by local governments and other ministries, to maintain security, safety and prevent cross infection.

The Vietnamese Government has also agreed that hotels and resorts can be used as concentrated quarantine sites, preferably reserved for foreigners who are willing to pay for the services.

Source: VNS