Hanoi performs Covid tests on air arrivals from HCMC

The measure, to be conducted during the next four to five days, is part of the city's community Covid-19 screening program, especially amid Ho Chi Minh City’s concerning coronavirus situation, according to the CDC.

Hanoi CDC would cooperate with the Soc Son District medical center to randomly collect 400 samples from passengers on flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Noi Bai for Covid-19 testing. Passengers whose samples are collected would need to stay in the airport for 20 minutes while awaiting their results. Should these return positive, they would need to undergo a RT-PCR test for confirmation.

Starting Wednesday, Hanoi CDC has collected 97 samples from passengers on two flights from HCMC to Noi Bai. So far, all samples have returned negative.

HCMC has recorded 1,135 local cases during Vietnam's latest coronavirus wave, behind only Bac Giang with 4,945 cases and Bac Ninh with 1,448.

The southern metropolis recently extended a two-week social distancing period starting May 31 by an additional two weeks as new coronavirus cases kept popping up.

Hanoi meanwhile has recorded 464 local Covid-19 cases as part of the new wave, with 148 cases being contained in two locked down hospitals.