Vietnam: Domestic air transport is the 5th transport sector to officially reopen in areas with Covid-19 in 2022?
- From March 24, 2022, how often are domestic air routes allowed to resume in areas with Covid-19?
- From March 24, 2022, what are the conditions for domestic air routes to reopen in areas with Covid-19?
- How should passengers and flight crews take precautions against Covid-19 when participating in domestic air transport?
From March 24, 2022, how often are domestic air routes allowed to resume in areas with Covid-19?
According to the guidance in Section 3 of Decision 372/QD-BGTVT of Vietnam in 2022, from March 24, 2022, domestic air routes will be allowed to reopen with the following frequency:
“3. Frequency of domestic passenger air transport and COVID-19 control measures
a) Frequency of operation of regular domestic passenger airway: Vietnamese airlines are allowed to operate flights with frequency depending on market demand, airlines’ capacity, airport's infrastructures, and air navigation infrastructure.”
According to that, frequency of operation of regular domestic passenger airway: Vietnamese airlines are allowed to operate flights with frequency depending on market demand, airlines’ capacity, airport's infrastructures, and air navigation infrastructure.
Vietnam: Domestic air transport is the 5th transport sector to officially reopen in areas with Covid-19 in 2022?
From March 24, 2022, what are the conditions for domestic air routes to reopen in areas with Covid-19?
Also according to the guidance in Section 3 of Decision 372/QD-BGTVT of Vietnam in 2022, domestic air routes will reopen with the following conditions:
“3. Frequency of domestic passenger air transport and COVID-19 control measures
…
b) COVID-19 control measures: Conform to Decision No. 218/QD-BYT dated January 27, 2022 of Ministry of Health;
Provisional guidelines on medical specialty in implementation of Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021 of the Government on Provisional guidelines on “Safe, flexible adaptation, and effective control of COVID-19”; requirements and guidelines of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Control, Ministry of Health, and local health authorities."
According to the above regulations, COVID-19 control measures are guided in Provisional guidelines on medical specialty in implementation of Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP on Provisional guidelines on “Safe, flexible adaptation, and effective control of COVID-19” enclosed with Decision 218/QD-BYT of Vietnam in 2022 as follows:
“III. PROFESSIONAL MEASURES
1. Preparation of capacity for response to the COVID-19 pandemic
To ensure safety, flexibility and effective control of COVID-19 pandemic, provinces and central-affiliated cities shall:
a) Formulate scenarios and plans for ensuring medical affairs serving COVID-19 prevention and control according to each epidemic level; implement them in case of local outbreaks.
b) Enhance the capacity for admission and treatment of COVID-19 cases:
- Assess capacity to manage and care for COVID-19 patients (F0 cases) at commune levels; ensure the availability of COVID-19 hospital beds at district-level admission and treatment facilities and fully staffed ICU beds at medical examination and treatment facilities in the provinces and cities (including private healthcare facilities) in order to be prepared for response to epidemic situation at the highest level. Update data and manage reporting software for F0 treatment and admission facilities.
- Carry out assessment and classification of patients at all levels, especially at commune level in order to manage and care for F0 cases at home or at suitable healthcare facilities; avoid invalid referral in order to avoid overloading upper-level facilities.
- Be prepared for outbreaks: examination and treatment facilities of districts and upper levels shall have the liquid or compressed oxygen supply system; medical stations of communes, wards and commune-level towns shall ensure supply of medical oxygen; have plans for organizing mobile medical stations, F0 caring teams in the community, F0 management organizations at home; areas with epidemic level 3 or higher must have plans for enhancing capacity for admission and treatment for COVID-19 patients to avoid overload in a large area.
- Organize examination and treatment facilities in a manner that they can treat both ordinary patients and COVID-19 patients. Screen suspected cases that enter the examination and treatment facilities. Ensure strict management to avoid cross infection at the examination and treatment facilities.
c) Enhance capacity for admission and treatment at all levels, especially grassroots levels. Provide training and carry out classification and treatment for COVID-19 patients according to the pyramid model of the Ministry of health in order to avoid overloading upper-level hospitals. Review and actively improve capacity for healthcare system; have definite plans with specific scenarios to avoid passivity. Make sure all people who test positive for Covid-19 have access to healthcare services, medicine support, management and health monitoring. Ensure adequate medical oxygen supply and referral for people at higher risk of severe Covid-19 illness, deaths and people who are undergoing home treatment and may have difficulty contacting medical workers. Develop a referral system to ensure accessibility for all people.
d) Enhance training to improve capacity for contact tracing, testing, medical quarantine/isolation and treatment in the area.
2. Testing
a) SARS-CoV-2 tests shall be carried out by one method or a combination of different methods; random and periodic screening tests shall be carried out by management authorities of units and areas in high-risk areas and for the high-risk group in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
b) Testing for elimination of Covid-19 clusters: local governments shall cooperate with Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute in deciding suitable subjects and areas for testing. Carry out genome sequencing testing samples of persons with unusual symptoms.
c) Do not require testing of people traveling within the country.
3. Medical quarantine
For persons who come in close contact with Covid-19 patients (F1 cases) and inbound passengers: implement guidelines of the Ministry of Health.”
How should passengers and flight crews take precautions against Covid-19 when participating in domestic air transport?
According to the instructions in Sections 4 and 5 of Decision 372/QD-BGTVT of Vietnam in 2022, flight crews, passengers and airport businesses must pay attention to implementing measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 as follows:
“4. Flight crews (aircrew and stewardess) and passengers engaging in domestic air transport must:
a) comply with “5K Rule”; perform medical declaration in accordance with regulations of Ministry of Health;
b) strictly implement COVID-19 control measures in accordance with guidelines of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Control and Ministry of Health;
c) perform medical test and quarantine: conform to requirements and guidelines of Ministry of Health and local health authorities.
5. Enterprises operating airports and aerodromes must adequately implement COVID-19 control measures in accordance with request and guidelines of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Control, Ministry of Health, and local authorities.”
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