The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAA) has asked its agencies to raise the warning against the Covid-19 pandemic to the highest level after some infections are found related to airport staff.

Precautionary measures closely followed at airports. Source: Vietnam Airlines

Earlier on February 6, one staff at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus. On Monday [February 8], four more new cases were confirmed in the airport. All of them are linked to the staff.

The warning was made as Tet holiday or the Lunar New Year approaches and air travels are expected to surge. Each day, domestic airlines operate average 700 flights with more than 100,000 passengers.

Under its request, the body asks related agencies, especially airports and air traffic management centers to strictly impose precautionary measures that included in decrees and decisions by the prime minister, the Ministry of Transport, and the CAA.

All staff and passengers need to wear face masks, sanitizing, and following social distancing practices as guided by authorized agencies and health bodies.

The airports are required to conduct body temperature screening and disinfection regularly to timely detect suspected cases.

They are also requested to make the list of crew members and incoming passengers for medical surveillance.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, tightening air control is one of measures to keep the virus from spreading in the country that borders China, the nation where the global health crisis started.