Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam will not change its currenttactics in pandemic control amid the detection of new variants of SARS-CoV-2virus, the standing board of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention andControl said, asking relevant forces to continue keeping a close watch on thesituation, and maintain strong guard against outside threats while intensifyingpreventive measures in the country.

The board reached agreement on the response at itsmeeting on January 7.

In order to preventthe pandemic from entering the country from the outside, along with efforts ofthe border guard and security forces, the committee requested local administrationsto enhance their monitoring of the situation in their localities.

It also requested the strict implementation of thePrime Minister’s instruction regarding inbound flights from other countries.

Accordingly, inbound flights from countries and territories where the newvariants of the coronavirus are causing complicated developments will besuspended, so as to ensure safety inside the country.

The military, medical, transport, and diplomatic sectorsshould review the capacity of quarantine facilities, with a view to gradually respondingto the wish to return home of Vietnamese citizens abroad. 

Regarding special cases when patients testedpositives after more than 14 days since arrival and multiple test, it isnecessary to re-evaluate quarantine regulations  to minimize the risks of infection insidequarantine facilities, said Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, who is also head of thecommittee.

He asked the Ministry of Health to coordinate withrelevant forces to strengthen the management of people quarantined in hotels,while intensifying the update of information on its systems to make sure thatall Vietnamese  returnees are monitoredsince they register for flights to the time they are placed in quarantine afterarriving./.