Two Vietnam Airlines-operated flights bringing a combined total of 409  Vietnamese passengers home from South Korea landed at the Da Nang International Airport on Friday. They are now undergoing mandatory 14-day quarantine in three Son Tra District-based hotels, which are now designated for use as temporary isolation sites, in line with the Ministry of Health.

Among the repatriated citizens are those who are under 18, seniors, ill persons, and students who completed their courses but lacked accommodation due to dormitory closures, and others with extremely difficult circumstances.

In-flight safety and preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic were rigorously enforced to protect the passengers’ health, and prevent the spread of the disease. All of the passengers had their health checked before boarding, wore face masks throughout the flight, and submitted their health declarations.

Upon arrival at the Da Nang airport, all passengers and crew members received medical check-ups, and they were sent to quarantine in line with the VIetnamese regulations.

All passengers and flight crews will have their swab and blood serum samples taken for coronavirus testing.

Also, the planes, the entire passenger cabin, cockpit and cargo storage areas were disinfected after landing.

Hotels used for temporary quarantine sites are asked to not serve other purposes, and these venues are required to ensure essential living conditions such as electricity, water, sanitation, bathroom, ventilation, as well as being safe and convenient for accessing.

Also, checkpoints, security teams and the warning sign “Authorized personnel only” are already set up.

Unauthorised people are banned from entering these hotels. Besides, these venues have established their own disinfection point for transport vehicles at the hotel entrance. All vehicles entering and leaving the hotels were disinfected. In particular, hotel staff members have been intensively trained to serve the quarantined people.

Till date, no community-transmitted cases of COVID-19  have been reported in Da Nang since the first local transmission cases were recorded in the northern province of Hai Duong in late January after nearly two months without local infections in Viet Nam.

By PHAN CHUNG- Translated by A.T