Besides being quarantined for 14 days, those arriving in Vietnam from or through Schengen states will undergo Covid-19 tests for early detection, VnExpress quoted the National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19 as saying.

Passengers fill out health declaration forms at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: Ha Do.

It is expected that in the coming days, there will be an upsurge in the arrival of Vietnamese residing overseas who return to the home country from countries and territories hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The countries identified by Vietnam as epidemic-hit include 26 Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland), the UK, China, South Korea and Iran.

The National Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of Covid-19 has requested municipal governments to test all those returning from epidemic-hit countries and territories from March 14 for novel coronavirus infection.

Those testing positive for nCoV will get immediate treatment while others will be quarantined for 14 days.

The Ministry of Transport is responsible for timely checking the number of flights, passengers, their information and estimated landing time and airports of landing before informing other ministries and local authorities to prepare and manage quarantine zones.

Airlines have been instructed to inform their customers about Vietnam’s preventive measures and regulations.

The Ministry of Defense will arrange quarantine zones and transportation for people coming from or through these countries.

The Ministry of Public Security will speed up immigration procedures to prevent large concentration of people at the airports.

The People's Committee of Hanoi on March 14 also called on people coming from the epidemic-hit areas from March 1 to contact the health authorities for free nCoV testing.

As of March 15, the world recorded 157,233 infection cases in 148 countries and territories. Vietnam has detected 37 new cases over the past week, raising the total number so far to 53. Of them, 16 recovered and were discharged from hospital by February 26.