Vietnam considers providing Covid-19 tests at airports

Medical agencies are completing testing and quarantining procedures for passengers following the resumption.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son, on Thursday, the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control will have a meeting to discuss the offer of Covid-19 tests on passengers from abroad at airports.

“We will learn experiences from some countries such as Thailand, Japan and some European countries for the most appropriate measures for Covid-19 prevention,” Son added.

According to Son, one of the solutions is the use of the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for Covid-19 testing at the first days of the international flight re-opening when the number of flights would not be very high.

In this case, passengers have to wait for 1.5-4 hours for Covid-19 test at airports. With negative results, travellers would not have to be quarantined; however, if it is positive, they will be sent to quarantine areas.

All people entering Vietnam from abroad will have to pay quarantine and Covid-19 testing fees.

The Ministry of Health will hire businesses to conduct Covid-19 tests at airports.

When the number of passengers of international flights is higher, the Ministry of Health will mull over the use of quick testing method which will have the result within 30-60 minutes.

At a recent meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked to tighten control over international flights. It is essential to have Covid-19 prevention measures for each flight.

The government leader mentioned the consideration to gradually raise flights to and from countries which have basically controlled the pandemic for transporting experts, investors and qualified workers as well as repatriating Vietnamese people.

Hanoi, HCM City and Can Tho City need to ensure paid quarantine facilities to receive people from abroad.

Vietnam has entered the 14th day without recording any new Covid-19 community transmission case.

The country has registered 1,063 Covid-19 patients, including 35 deaths.