Pandemic prevention should not be neglected

The COVID-19 pandemic has been gradually controlled in Vietnam thanks to the joint efforts and synchronous measures of healthcare and armed forces as well as local authorities. On the morning of September 16, Vietnam has seen two weeks without a case of coronavirus infection in the community.

The disease prevention and control still needs to be a priority without any negligence. (Illustrative image)
The disease prevention and control still needs to be a priority without any negligence. (Illustrative image)

This positive result is the basis for Vietnam to enter a new normal state with the gradual removal of isolation measures, particularly facilitating the restoration of socio-economic activities and the daily activities of the people.

At a recent meeting regarding the resumption of international commercial flights, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh agreed to reopen regular international commercial flights between Vietnam and several countries following the proposal of the Ministry of Transport.

The recommencement of international commercial flights is expected to contribute to restoring production and business activities and lessen the disruption of the global trade chains.

Notably, there are currently many experts, enterprises and investors who wish to come to Vietnam to survey and seek business opportunities but who cannot do so.

Therefore, the resumption of commercial flights is of great importance and also appropriate with the response measures to the pandemic.

The restoration of socio-economic activities is necessary but disease prevention and control still need to be a priority without any negligence being shown.

Thus, the relevant authorities should strictly carry outregulations on pandemic prevention and control for specific groups of people entering Vietnam through international commercial flights.

The quarantine of people entering Vietnam through commercial flights to prevent the coronavirus infectionmust be strictly and fully implemented under the guidance of specialised agencies.

The Ministry of Transport, the unit in charge of organising international commercial flights, needs to closely coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to discuss with partners on the entry process, subjects who are eligible to enter Vietnam, and conditions for those before boarding the plane.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Security should coordinate with the People’s Committees of provinces and cities where foreign passengers will be receivedtoorganise quarantine according to the regulations on pandemic prevention.

In addition, the Ministry of Health needs to promptly give guidance on monitoring and testing for SARS-CoV-2 for people entering Vietnam when international commercial flights are resumed. It should strengthen its capacity to provide rapid diagnostic and test reagents for use at border gates and in the community.

Plans to take samples for SARS-CoV-2 at border gatesand airports must be devised in accordance with the requirements on disease prevention and control in the new normal state and new regulations on shortening theconcentrated isolation duration for experts, investors, trading partners, and high-tech workers entering Vietnammust be followed.

Local authorities should closely follow the instructions of the Government, the National Steering Committee for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ministry of Health to exercise pandemic prevention and control in accordance with the local requirements.

Localities with land borders need to strictly control both entry and exit via the border to promptly prevent anyillegal immigration.