More than 2 years ago, during the early stage of the Covid-19 breakout, Vietnam fought the epidemic with the motto “Zero Covid”. That is the epidemic fight way suitable for the former strains, helping our country succeed in 2020 when the number of vaccinations is not much. Which, there are the regulations that people entering Vietnam must show negative nCoV test results by PCR or rapid test.
According to the World Health Organization, the Covid-19 epidemic began to reduce both numbers of global infectious cases and deaths. Basic vaccines are still effective on variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Many countries and territories gradually lose the anti-epidemic measures, including the requirement for Covid-19 testing for entry people.
By the end of March 2022, more than 50 countries and territories around the world suspended the requirement of pre-entry testing for international tourists, including the UK, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Peru, and the Maldives… many countries only apply to entry people who had enough vaccinations. In Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand are also gradually removing this regulation.
Looking at our country, after two years of the epidemic, life has changed, the communities and the people’s activities have been in different conditions, and it is necessary to adjust or even remove the inappropriate regulations.
The number of new infectious cases in Vietnam is low down continuously since the “door open” day on March 15 until now (the number of infectious cases announced on May 13 is over 2,000 only), the number of serious disease cases, the number of deaths related to Covid-19 low down, the vaccine coverage rate rises up the highest rate in the world.
According to the previous regulation, people entering Vietnam by airway, road, waterway and railway are required to take the negative test for nCoV by PCR within 72 hours; it takes 24 hours if a quick test is taken. If no test is taken, within the first 24 hours from the time of entry, from the border gate to the accommodation (hotel, private house…) it is necessary to limit stopping and contacting other people. After a negative test result is shown, they are free to travel. Children under 2 years old are not required to be tested and are accompanied by their parents, relatives… The regulation on showing a negative test on entry has made it difficult for people and international tourists to come to Vietnam in the early “door open period”.
Since the Government’s Resolution No.128 stipulating “Safe, flexible adaptation and effective control of Covid-19 epidemic”, many epidemic prevention and control regulations have been relaxed, such as removing the quarantine of close exposure persons (F1); Importers must not prepare the medical declaration…and recently, from 0:00 on May 15, they must not take SARS-CoV-2 virus test when they enter into Vietnam.
According to the medical experts, tourism activities have been eased but not relaxed, because tourists are present when the door is open. The whole is loosening but there should be asynchronous prevention. Quarantine is applied per infectious zone. Social quarantine, social security is no longer.
Said Dr. Nguyen Lan Hieu (Director of Hanoi Medical University Hospital and Director of Binh Duong Province General Hospital) on a personal social website recently about the experience of the Covid-19 test before entering Vietnam, they have received the agreement of many people in the same situation. In the current context, this medical doctor said that number of countries that require a negative test before entry is only a few. Because the epidemic has reduced globally and a number of countries applying the “Zero Covid” policy can only be very few.
Moreover, the value of the Covid-19 test is scientifically very limited and purely for reference.
“Timely and appropriate policy application is the successful key in the post-Covid-19 period in every country in the world. If the epidemic breaks out with new strains, we will apply the new measures,” said Mr. Hieu
Vietnam started to open its door to international tourism on March 15. Since the beginning of the year, the whole country has welcomed more than 22,300 international tourists; 15,000 tourists are welcomed in March. To achieve and even exceed the 2022 expected goal, more than 5 million international tourists are welcomed, contributing to the break in the aviation industry and Vietnam’s economy in general, the regulation on removing tests on entry like “removing a barrier”, makes Vietnam “open” its door wider than for the international tourists.
In the context of Vietnam reopening its door two years after being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam is gradually consolidating its potential tourism not only by its long historical tradition and scenic spots but also by the comprehensive development of its tourism service system, and thanks for an open entry policy, Vietnam will also attract a large number of foreign tourists to visit this beautiful country.
Source : VNnet