Vietnam denies entry from 27 European countries over COVID-19 concerns

March 14, 2020 | 12:00

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As the global COVID-19 pandemic is reaching increasingly serious proportions, visitors from Europe's Schengen area and the UK will be temporarily refused entry to Vietnam starting from March 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today.

vietnam denies entry from 27 european countries over covid 19 concerns

Travellers from or having travelled to the 27 European countries to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Photo: CBC)

This temporary entry refusal is applicable to travellers who come from, or have been to, these 27 nations 14 days prior to their intended arrival in Vietnam.

The Schengen area covers 26 countries without border controls between them. These countries are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Vietnamese government has also decided to suspend its visa on arrival policy.

Arrivals for diplomatic or public service purposes are not subject to the ban taking effect for 30 days from 12am on March 15.

The MoFA also noted that foreigners who are experts, business managers, and skilled workers are required to undergo medical examination upon entering the country and need to make health declarations, as well as comply with the preventive measures at their working sites and accommodation, in strict accordance with local regulations.

Not submitting a health declaration, providing untruthful information, or not following quarantine procedures as instructed are punishable by strict penalties outlined by law.

Vietnam will continue to closely monitor the pandemic situation and co-ordinate with other countries and territories, international organisations, and partners to promptly adjust appropriate preventive and control measures in an attempt to restrict the COVID-19 from spreading wider in the community.

As of March 14, Vietnam has reported a total of 53 cases diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in over 12 cities and provinces, with many new cases having returned or arriving to Vietnam from overseas. While 16 of the patients have recovered (before March 6), the remainder are being treated in hospital and are showing good signs of recovery. Most recently, two British patients have tested negative for COVID-19 after one week of treatment at an isolation site in Danang General Hospital.

By Thanh Mai

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