The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) under the Ministry of Transport (MOT) has suspended inbound flights from the UK and South Africa, and countries and territories infected with a new variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Vietnam suspends inbound flights from UK and South Africa to prevent new coronavirus variant. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

Earlier, the ministry sent the dispatch to relevant units on the implementation of Prime Minister's Directive No. 01 on strengthening the prevention and control of Covid-19 pandemic.

The CAAV requests domestic and foreign airlines to strictly comply with regulations on pandemic prevention before, during and after flights such as: medical declaration, wearing a face mask, checking passenger body temperature before boarding, sterilizing surfaces and aircraft.

Local transport units are required to continue tightening and strengthening safe measures against the pandemic in passenger transport.

The maritime port authorities in coordination with border and medical quarantine agencies are tasked with strengthening management and control of seafarers, preventing them from going ashore. Shipping companies are requested to minimize the change of crew members.

The MOT requires all civil servants, officials and workers in the industry to fully implement anti-epidemic measures according to the message "5K" which means “Khau trang" (face mask) - "Khu khuan" (disinfection) - "Khoang cach" (distance) - "Khong tu tap" (no gatherings) - "Khai bao y te" (health declaration). 

Vietnam continues to stop unnecessary activities and events that gather large crowds for the prevention and control of the pandemic.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also requested aviation sector to restrict the number of flights that bring stranded Vietnamese home until after the Lunar New Year holiday to prevent new Covid-19 variants from spreading around the world.

Under the prime minister’s directive signed on January 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked with working closely with the Ministries of Health and Transport to make a list of countries and territories where the directive is applicable.