Covid-19 protocol: HCMC stops collecting samples from Da Nang arrivals at airport

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control and Prevention said starting Friday visitors from Da Nang, the epicenter of Vietnam’s second outbreak wave, are required to visit medical centers or designated facilities to make medical declarations and get tested instead of having samples taken upon landing at the airport as previously.

Da Nang had eased its social distancing measures on September 5, and the Transport Ministry allowed the resumption of public transportation services to and from the central city two days later. Da Nang has brought its Covid-19 outbreak under control, going over two weeks without new domestic infections.

However, many localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, are still screening arrivals from Da Nang as a precautionary measure.

HCMC has gone over 40 days without a new case of Covid-19 community transmission and all its patients have recovered.

All 16 patients found infected since July 25, including eight domestic infections, have been discharged, the center said. Vietnam's second Covid-19 outbreak wave began on July 25 after a 99-day streak of no domestic infections.

The city currently has 863 people quarantined at centralized facilities and 238 others isolated at home or other accommodations.

HCMC is now preparing to collect quarantine fees for those arriving from abroad and expanding accommodation facilities to quarantine foreign experts coming to Vietnam for less than 14 days.

Vietnam had earlier this month lifted the 14-day centralized quarantine requirement for foreign experts, investors, managers, and diplomats entering the country for less than 14 days, but requires them to comply with all Covid-19 prevention measures including wearing masks and refraining from shaking hands.

So far, HCMC has allowed 7,000 foreign experts to enter the city to work since the country imposed travel restrictions in late March, according to official data.

Vietnam has suspended foreign arrivals and halted all international flights since late March. Only some special cases are allowed to enter the country.

HCMC last Monday reopened bars and dance clubs and allowed the organization of festivals, fairs and conferences in accordance with anti-pandemic measures.

Vietnam’s Covid-19 count is now 1,063, of these 107 are active cases and 918 recoveries. It has confirmed 35 Covid-19 deaths. The country has gone 11 days without domestic infections.