Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Aviation staff in direct contact withpassengers will have to wear transparent face shields and will be frequentlytested for SARS-CoV-2 as part of the efforts to stop infections after twoclusters in two major international airports were detected in Vietnam's latestcommunity infection wave.

TheCivil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has issued an emergency documentdemanding strengthened measures in COVID-19 prevention and control atairports across the country.

CAAVDirector Dinh Viet Thang asked all aviation staff to strictly follow preventiveand control measures including the use of face coverings, frequentdisinfection, avoiding large gatherings, keeping a safe distance andsubmitting health declarations.

Airlinepassengers are required to submit e-health declarations at tokhaiyte.vn orvia the app Vietnam Health Declaration.

Thosefailed to file proper health declarations or observe disease prevention andcontrol measures would be refused boarding.

Thangalso asked all aviation staff to install and activate the contact tracing app Bluezone whichhelps detect and deliver early warnings about COVID-19 cases and potentialrisks of coming into contacts with suspect cases.

Passengerswould be instructed to keep a safe distance when checking-in or onbuses travelling from terminals to planes and vice versa.

Airportauthorities and airline operators nationwide were asked to review and assessdisease prevention and control activities to detect risks of infection.

FromFebruary 15, Vietnam Airlines added preventive measures on flights from Hà Nộias the number of passengers from Hà Nội to southern provinces increased sharplyafter the Tet (Lunar New Year)holiday.

Passengerson flights from Hanoi, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong would be randomly tested forSARS-CoV-2 when arriving at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Packagedmeals would be served in order to limit contact between flight attendantsand passengers.

Theflag carrier Vietnam Airlines would also disinfect all planes that depart from Hanoito Da Nang or HCM City as soon as they land. Other planes would be disinfectedwhen they return to Hanoi, Da Nang and HCM City.

Among22 airports in Vietnam, Van Don Airport in northern Quang Ninh province hasbeen closed since January 28 after a group of employees including securitypersonnel were found to be infected with coronavirus. The airport is set toreopen on February 21 after all 160 staff working at the airport were confirmednegative for SARS-CoV-2 on February 9.

Afterconfirmed COVID-19 cases at the Van Don Airport, the Airport Corporation ofVietnam (ACV) on February 4 announced that employees of all 21 active airportswould be tested for COVID-19.

OnFebruary 6, a lugguage handler at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport wasfound to be positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Asof February 13, an additional eight staff members of the airport testedpositive for the novel coronavirus, all of whom are ground servicestaff and baggage handlers under Vietnam Airport Ground ServicesCompany Limited (VIAGS)./.