Vietnam will temporarily stop operating flights from countries and territories with the new variant of the SARS-CoV- 2 virus, according to a decision by PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Vietnam will temporarily stop operating flights from countries and territories with the new variant of the SARS-CoV- 2 virus. Photo for illustration.

The newly-issued Directive 01/2021 by the PM stated that flights from the UK and South Africa would be banned while the ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs continued to define other areas which are reporting the new variant of the virus.

According to the Directive, the Covid-19 pandemic is continuing to spread widely in the world, especially with the emergence of the new SARS-CoV-2 virus variant which has been reported in 38 countries, including Vietnam.

On January 2, a Vietnamese woman from the southern province of Tra Vinh was confirmed as the country’s first case of the coronavirus variant. She is being quarantined at a hospital in Tra Vinh for treatment in stable health condition.

Currently, more than 40 countries have imposed bans and restrictions on travel from the UK and countries that have recorded the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The government leader noted that there was a high risk for the virus spread to Vietnam from incoming people from other countries. Meanwhile, many local people have ignored virus prevention rules.

The PM asked the Ministry of Defence to closely co-operate with the MInistry of Public Security to tighten monitoring at border lines and sea to prevent illegal crossings.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health proposed that the Prime Minister direct a number of relevant ministries and agencies to stop operating and restrict the licensing of flights to Vietnam from countries and territories that have recorded the new variant of the virus.

Currently Vietnam have conducted flights to repatriate local citizens stranded overseas due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The country is also receiving foreign diplomats, experts, and highly skilled workers.