More than 400 Vietnamese citizens returning from China are living a military life during 14 days of quarantine at a military barracks in the border town of Lang Son.

The barracks of Regiment 123 in Lang Son province is the first destination receiving Vietnamese students and workers returning from China, who are in quarantine for 14 days for health checkups.

The isolation venue was established on February 3 and was filled up as of February 6 by 400 people. Other citizens will be taken to other quarantine stations in the province including military barracks and health stations.  

Before being admitted to the center, the returnees have their bodies’ temperature checked and are asked to declare their itineraries and locations in China to be isolated and screened.

Each citizen is granted medical mask daily as well as other personal amenities such as a cup, toothbrush, toothpaste, hygiene paper, among others, matching the standards of a newly enlisted soldier. 

Their body temperature is checked every day. If somebody is detected with body temperature higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius, they will be referred to Lang Son General Hospital. 

Since February 3, four people with symptoms of fever have been referred to the provincial General Hospital. Others show good physical and mental health. 

Tam and her two-year-old daughter have stayed at the quarantine center for three days after returning from a visit to relatives in China. Her room features eight beds for women and children and heat lamps to warm up in harsh weather conditions of the winter in Lang Son. 

Each room has a bottle of salt water to gargle. 

The food regime for 400 people is prepared according to the military standard with three meals a day, of which lunch is more important when cooked rice, soup, shrimp and meat are served.  

In the afternoon of February 6, the center received another 30 people and the soldiers were busy cleaning and arranging beds for the newcomers. 

Once a new citizen is admitted, the special vehicle in which he is transported is cleaned and disinfected with Cloramin-B. Currently, the Regiment sterilizes public places every day, clears sewage drains and performs disinfection work once a week.