Nghe An Border Guard strictly controls border areas to prevent disease spread

Reporter:Could you tell us how Nghe An Border Guard has been implementing Covid-19 prevention and control work?

Lieutenant Colonel Ho Quyet Thang:Implementing the direction of superiors and based on the actual situation in the area, Nghe An Border Guard is drastically and synchronously deploying measures to manage and protect the border, focusing highly on the task of preventing and controlling the spread of Covid-19 across the border and into the border area.

In particular, focusing on strictly controlling border gates, carrying out entry procedures for Vietnamese citizens returning from Laos, conducting initial medical checks, classifying subjects and coordinating handover to competent authorities for 14-day quarantine according to regulations. Border Guard Stations on the two land and coastal borders will increase the number of troops to stay in the area to propagate and mobilize people on epidemic prevention measures, ensuring security and order.

Checking, measuring body temperature and declaring health of passengers at the Vietnam - Laos border gate. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Up to now, Nghe An Border Guard has established 45 fixed posts at the trails on the border and 07 mobile teams with the participation of 357 officers and soldiers including Border Guard, police, militia and local medical forces. The working teams will be on duty 24/7, ready to detect and handle violators according to regulations. In addition, Nghe An Border Guard units have increased 60 working teams/200 officers and soldiers to stick to residential areas and patrol and control the area.

As of March 25, the Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station has completed entry procedures for 458 citizens from Laos to Vietnam to undergo quarantine according to regulations (of which 258 people were transported to quarantine at the Nghe An Provincial Defense Education Center and 200 people were quarantined in Ky Son district).

On March 23, during the border checkpoint, the Huoi Co Border Guard Station, Nhon Mai Border Guard Station, Nghe An Border Guard also discovered 7 citizens from Yen Thanh district illegally entering Vietnam from Laos through the border trail, in order to avoid quarantine by local authorities and functional forces.

Border guards at Nam Can International Border Gate are on duty at the Covid-19 prevention and control checkpoint. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Reporter:How will the Nghe An Border Guard Command deal with subjects who illegally enter and exit the country?

Lieutenant Colonel Ho Quyet Thang:We have directed the checkpoints that when detecting cases of illegal entry and exit across the border at this time, the working groups must ensure that epidemic prevention measures are immediately implemented.

Specifically, illegal immigrants are required to quickly wear masks, disinfect personal belongings, initially complete legal procedures, and coordinate with authorities to hand over the subjects to the authorities for 14-day quarantine to monitor their health and prevent epidemics according to regulations.

However, after completing the quarantine period, the Border Guard Station will still handle administrative violations against the above-mentioned illegal entrants. Accordingly, those who "cross the national border without completing exit and entry procedures as prescribed" will be subject to administrative sanctions according to Point a, Clause 3, Article 17 of Decree 167/2013/ND-CP of the Government with a fine of 3 to 5 million VND.

7 illegal immigrants were taken to the Ky Son District Quarantine Area. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Deputymember:What difficulties are officers and soldiers of Nghe An Border Guard facing in carrying out their duties?

Lieutenant Colonel Ho Quyet Thang:Nghe An province has a land border of over 468,281 km, bordering the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay and Hua Phan (Laos). On the border section managed by Nghe An Border Guard, there is Nam Can International Border Gate, which attracts a large number of citizens entering and exiting the country for business and tourism, along with many trails and openings that can cross the border.

Ethnic minorities living on both sides of the Vietnam-Laos border have close ethnic and kinship relations, and regularly visit relatives, exchange goods, etc., making it very easy for Covid-19 to spread across the border.

In the face of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Border Guard is implementing strict control of border gates and borders. In particular, officers and soldiers are having to work hard to prevent illegal entry and exit activities through trails and border openings.

Most of the checkpoints of Nghe An Border Guard are located close to the border, far from residential areas. Some checkpoints require walking for days to reach. The living and working conditions are extremely difficult, the climate is harsh, hot during the day and cold at night. The checkpoints do not have electricity or water. Medical equipment for epidemic prevention is very rudimentary, mainly medical masks and disinfectants mixed by the soldiers themselves.

Establishing a line to prevent and control epidemics at the Vietnam - Laos border. Photo: Hung Phong

In reality, due to the remoteness of the roads and the extremely difficult traffic, when detecting illegal border crossers from Laos, it is very difficult for the brothers on duty at the checkpoints to classify them, carry out initial epidemic prevention measures, and hand them over to the authorities for quarantine.

Deputymember:What is the forecast for the situation in the coming time? What is the determination of the officers and soldiers of the Provincial Border Guard in carrying out their duties?

Lieutenant Colonel Ho Quyet Thang: In the coming time, it is forecasted that the number of Vietnamese citizens returning to Vietnam from Laos through the Nam Can international border gate will increase. It is noteworthy that due to fear of being quarantined for 14 days, some people will find ways to illegally cross the border through trails and openings to enter Vietnam, causing insecurity and disorder in the border area, posing a high risk of disease infection.

Currently, the provincial Border Guard is directing units and key teams to step up propaganda work, advising people to travel through the correct border gates. Any act of crossing the border at the wrong border gate is considered illegal entry and exit and will be strictly handled according to current law. At present, all Vietnamese citizens entering the country legally or illegally are quarantined for 14 days to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic.

With the spirit of "Fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy", officers and soldiers of the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard will proactively overcome all difficulties and lack of determination, together with the army and people of the whole country, to repel the Covid-19 epidemic, while successfully completing the political task assigned by the Party, State and people, which is to firmly manage and protect the sovereignty and security of the national border in all situations.

PV:Thank you for this exchange!