Vietnamese Health Minister calls for legal entries over Covid-19 fears

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Vietnam has gone 50 days without community infections, but the risk remains high. To minimize imported Covid-19 cases, the repatriation flights will not virtually be conducted till the Tet holiday, Long said at a teleconference on the Covid-19 prevention and control on January 20.

As many as 100 to 150 illegal entrants through trails are detected every day on average and even up to 500 on some days, Long added.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long speaks at the teleconference on the Covid-19 prevention and control on January 20 Photo: VNA

The minister said some countries in the region are still operating commercial flights. Many overseas Vietnamese have flown to these countries and then illegally return to Vietnam by land, VNExpress reported.

Head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine Dang Quang Tan said that over the past few days, the authorities have discovered 177 foreigners illegally entering Vietnam including 167 Chinese, 8 Cambodia, 1 New Zealand, and 1 Canadian. 1843 Vietnamese illegal entrants have been put into quarantine.

Minister Long added that illegal entrants have contact with domestic rings. The Health Ministry has made a list of carriers smuggling people illegally entering Vietnam.

“To ensure a safe and happy Tet, the health ministry appeals for people legally entering Vietnam and comply with the mandatory 14-day quarantine”, Long stressed.

Border guards of Huu Nghi Border Gate Station (Lang Son) detected a group of people attempting to enter the country illegally and arrested five people on December 30. Photo: VNA/VNS

The Health Ministry also requested the authorities to strictly crack down on individuals who organizing illegal entry into Vietnam as well as calls for citizens to report anyone illegally entering the country or breaching quarantine protocols.

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MoH asks to enhance control at Vietnam's border areas to prevent Covid-19 infection Ministry of Health Nguyen Thanh Long has asked to tighten control over trails in the border areas, creating more fence layers to prevent the risks ...

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