Vietnam on March 15 began to take samples of visitors at airports for coronavirus test as part of efforts to intensify measures against the epidemic.

All passengers from epidemic-hit countries, including Europe and the US, are subject to the sampling, local media quoted Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long as saying.

Medical check at Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: Vietnamplus

Taking samples for testing is added with several measures required at the airports, including medical declaration and temperature check after Vietnam found more foreign visitors positive with the new coronavirus.

Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi closely followed the rule, taking more than 1,300 samples within the day for the test.

On March 15, Hanoi had to send more medical staff to the airport to take samples amid a surge in the number of passengers that was estimated to triple that from a day before. The soaring number of passengers was largely resulted from Vietnam’s suspension of entry of visitors from the UK and 26 countries in the Schengen Area from March 15.

To facilitate the procedures, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan asked authorities at Noi Bai International Airport to classify passengers and shorten time for sample collecting. Military forces will support the airport in taking passengers to quarantine areas.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen asked the airport to tighten control over security and disinfection to ensure the safety for all passengers, mostly the elderly, children, and pregnant women.

In another move, under the prime minister’s request, all air passengers are required to wear masks before and during the flight. At several airport terminals, passengers without facial mask have been refused to be attended.