COVID-19: More Vietnamese citizens brought home from UK

Vietnamese citizens flown home. Illustrative photo: VNA

The passengers included children aged under 18; students whose study completed, visas expired and or schools and dormitories closed; pregnant women; the elderly; the illnesses; and people who had been stranded during their travel or business trips.

A total of 1,410 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from several countries within this week. Of which, more than 230 citizens from Singapore on September 28, over 250 from the Republic of Korea (RoK) and about 350 from Japan on September 30, over 230 from Thailand on October 1, and more than 350 from the UK on October 2 and 3.

The Vietnamese Embassies worked with the host countries' competent agencies to support the citizens in reaching the airports and sent staff to assist them with boarding procedures.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, along with budget carriers Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air strictly implemented in-flight security and disease prevention measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Upon landing at the airports, all crewmembers and passengers were given heath checkups and put into compulsory quarantine in accordance with regulations.

It proved necessary as a Vietnamese returnee took flight VN311 from Tokyo (Japan) to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Vietnam), has been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2, raising the country’s tally of coronavirus infections to 1,096, the Ministry of Health reported on October 2.

Before that, another 18 cases imported into the nation were also confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2.

To date 1,020 out of a total of 1,096 patients have recovered from the disease. The death toll caused by COVID-19 and related diseases is 35.

In the future, more flights are set to be conducted to repatriate Vietnamese citizens with disadvantaged circumstances, depending on their need and quarantine capacity at home as the government is making good on its pledge that “no one will be left behind”.

With strict rules in place to ensure each passenger is quarantined as soon as they arrive, risks of community infections remain low.

Phuong Minh