On Friday, more than 500 reporters, editors and technicians who are covering the on-going 13^th National Party Congress in the capital city of Ha Noi have been taken their nose and throat swab samples for testing for COVID-19.

Medical staffers wearing medical protective suits preparing to take nose and throat swab samples from the reporters for the testing

The move came after more new locally transmitted coronavirus infections were confirmed in the northern Vietnamese localities of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh on Thursday, ending nearly two months of no local transmission in Viet Nam.

The reporters lining up to wait for having their nose and throat swab samples taken for the testing

This is the third time that the journalists have been tested for the deadly virus. Before the Congress started on 25 January, they had underwent two tests for COVID-19, and their negative results enabled them to do the job at the congress.

The taking of nose and throat swab samples from the reporters in progress

There are a combined total of about 500 reporters and technicians across Viet Nam, and more than 60 reporters, editors, technicians from foreign news agencies based in Viet Nam have registered to report on the Congress, Viet Nam's National Propaganda Department said.

The reporters taking time to covering the Congress pending their turns for the testing

In addition to the reporters, those from security forces and organisers undergoing the test for the corronavirus

Strict safety measures against the coronavirus have been put in place at the Congress. All of the attendees are required to wear face masks, wash hands with soap or hand sanitiser and keep a safe distance from others.

By DANG NO- Translated by A.T