Hanoi, (VNA) –CEO of Vietnam Airlines Duong Tri Thanh said on March 14 evening that the national flag carrier has made some adjustments to its earlierannouncement on flights between Vietnam and Europe.  

He told the VietnamNews Agency that while the carrier announced on March 14 morning that it would suspendcarrying passengers from Europe to Vietnam, later the same day, theVietnamese Health Ministry provided Vietnam Airlines with medical equipment toserve epidemic prevention, hence the carrier decided to transport Vietnamese nationalsin Europe who want to return to Vietnam.

At present, VietnamAirlines is the only Vietnamese carrier operating flights between Vietnam and Europe,which is a route with important significance in terms of economics, politics anddiplomacy.

Vietnam Airlines isconducting temperature checks on all passengers before they board flights fromEurope, and give face masks to all passengers for use throughout the flights.All international flights to Vietnam and flights with passengers showingabnormal health signs are disinfected. In addition, all passengers are asked torefrain from moving or talking during flights.

On domestic flights, the carrier also cleans up and disinfects aircraft,focusing on areas where passengers tend to touch, sterilize earphones andground service equipment. The carrier also continues implementing earlier diseasepreventive measures such as limiting multi-use objects, equipping the crew and passengerswith face masks and hand sanitisers, and adjusting cabin temperature  upto 26 degrees Celcius.

Earlier, at themeeting of the Government’s standing board on COVID-19 prevention and control,Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the Ministries of Foreign Affairs,Public Security and Health to temporarily deny entry of foreign visitors whocome from or transit Schengen countries and the UK within 14 days prior totheir intended arrival in Vietnam, and suspend the grant of on-arrival visas atborder gates.

The travel ban iseffective for 30 days as from 12:00 on March 15, and is not applied to thosewho arrive on diplomatic or official purposes.

Foreign experts,managers and skilled workers must undergo medical checks at the point of entryand undertake appropriate epidemic preventive measures at the workplaces andaccommodations in line with requirements.

Agencies are assigned to consider and decide the temporary suspension ofgranting tourist visas to visitors from each state of the US depending on thedevelopments of the epidemic in the US.

Vietnamese embassiesabroad should advise Vietnamese students and nationals not to return to Vietnamduring the time of epidemic. In case they really need to return to Vietnam,they must abide to regulations on quarantine./.