HCMC – Vietnam will limit the number of flights bringing citizens home from now until Tet (Lunar New Year), which will begin in mid-February, to reduce the risk of new Covid-19 infections, according to Official Dispatch 208 issued by the Government Office late last week.
The restriction is aimed at preventing the pandemic from spreading during the country’s biggest holiday, when there would be a high travel demand and large gatherings.
Only necessary flights approved by the prime minister and the Ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Public Security and Transport would be able to enter the country.
In the official dispatch, the prime minister also asked the Ministry of Health and local authorities to tighten control over quarantine centers, the quarantine process and the implementation of Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures.
Besides, quarantined people must be carefully monitored after completing their quarantine period. Organizations and individuals violating quarantine regulations and other preventive measures must be strictly sanctioned.
The Transport Ministry will consider resuming international flights after the Lunar New Year.
Vietnam has suspended inbound international commercial flights since late March 2020 to contain the spread of the pandemic. However, the country is still operating repatriation flights to bring Vietnamese citizens stuck in foreign countries home and allowing special flights carrying foreign experts and investors.
Last week, the country decided to suspend flights from countries with the new Covid-19 variant, starting with the United Kingdom and South Africa.
