Vietnam has yet to detect any cases of the Omicron variant. Photo: VNA

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has recommended the suspension of all flights, including relief flights, both to and from 10 African countries over concerns about the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The 10 African countries on the list are mainly located in the south of the continent and include Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, and Zambia, according to VOV.

The CAAV has asked the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to swiftly issue an entry ban for all passengers with a history of passing through any of these countries 30 days prior to entering Vietnam.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) previously asked relevant authorities to suspend all flights to and from seven African countries, namely South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Mozambique.

Aircraft landing at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: VnExpress

The CAAV has proposed that the MoT consult with the MoH to devise specific instructions for the medical control of passengers coming from several Asian countries where Omicron cases have already been recorded, such as the Republic of Korea and Japan.

It also urged the MoH to move to strengthen health quarantine in a bid to ensure that all international passengers from countries where the Omicron mutation has appeared undergo medical isolation upon entering Vietnam.

First reported in southern Africa more than a week ago, the Omicron variant has since spread to dozens of countries globally.

Vietnam has yet to detect any cases of the Omicron variant, although experts have warned that the variant may enter the country unless prevention measured are tightened. Two of Vietnam’s regional neighbours - Malaysia and Singapore - reported their first cases of the mutated variant this week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has already labeled Omicron a “variant of concern” due to a large number of mutations that could contribute to making the variant more contagious.

Omicron could affect international flight resumption

Vietnamese passengers undergo immigration procedures at the Van Don Airport, Quang Ninh Province, after landing on a flight from the U.S., Sept. 12, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam plans to resume international flights in early 2022, but the transport ministry said the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 could throw a wrench in the works.

It had recommended the resumption of flights to 12 countries and territories under a three-phase roadmap starting in January, but the emergence of the new strain has made some destination countries cautious, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong said at a recent government press briefing.

So his ministry is again holding discussions with relevant parties to finalize a detailed plan.

Under the plan submitted, commercial flights are set to resume to countries and territories with good pandemic control records and high vaccination rates.

Fully vaccinated passengers and those who have recovered from the disease will be quarantined for seven days at paid facilities on arrival in Vietnam.

In the second phase starting in the second quarter of 2022, passengers with vaccine passports approved by Vietnam will be exempt from quarantine, and from the third quarter normal flight services will resume.

Vietnam grounded international flights in March last year, allowing only its nationals, foreign experts, investors, and highly-skilled workers to enter.

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