Passenger transport activities within Nghe An province are allowed to return to normal.

On October 22, the Nghe An Department of Transport issued a document announcing the organization and guidance of transport activities to ensure safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Accordingly, from October 22, intra-provincial and inter-provincial freight transport activities are allowed to operate normally at all epidemic levels.

Regarding passenger transport activities. For intra-provincial passenger transport, all types of passenger transport activities by fixed-route cars, tourist cars, contract cars, buses, taxis and passenger transport by inland waterways in Nghe An are allowed to operate normally again.

As for inter-provincial passenger activities by car, passenger transport activities by fixed-route cars, tourist cars, contract cars, buses, and taxis from Nghe An to localities with epidemic levels Level 1 (green), Level 2 (yellow) and vice versa are allowed to operate normally.

Nghe An is still maintaining control points at Ben Thuy Bridge 1 and 2. Photo: Tien Hung

For passenger transport activities from Nghe An province to areas with level 3 epidemic (and vice versa): Transport units develop an operation plan (including: transport route, frequency of operation, means of transport, expected operation time) and send registration to Nghe An Department of Transport to notify the Department of Transport for agreement before implementation according to the following principles:

+ Passenger transport on fixed inter-provincial routes operates on the principle of 10% to a maximum of not exceeding 50% of the number of trips according to the traffic volume announced by the Department of Transport (number of trips/month) and with spaced seats on the vehicle (spaced seats are not applied to sleeper buses);

+ Passenger transport by bus, taxi, contract, tourism, student transport: allowed to operate according to the principle of 10% to not exceeding 50% of the total number of vehicles of the unit and with seat spacing on the vehicle (sleeper bus spacing is not applied);

For transportation activities from Nghe An to localities with level 4 epidemic (red) and vice versa: Temporarily suspend passenger transport business activities by car; in cases where passenger transport vehicles are required to pass through areas with level 4 epidemic, they are not allowed to stop, park, pick up, or drop off passengers.

Traffic police control people entering and leaving Nghe An. Photo: Tien Hung

The Department of Transport of Nghe An province recommends that passengers comply with the "5K Message"; make health declarations according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health; Comply with the conditions for vaccination and testing according to the instructions of the health sector when arriving/returning from high-risk areas (corresponding to level 3). Comply with the conditions for vaccination, testing, and quarantine according to the instructions of the health sector. In case the Ministry of Health instructs home quarantine but the locality has a centralized quarantine location that ensures safety and the individual subject to quarantine agrees, centralized quarantine can be organized instead of home quarantine when arriving/returning from very high-risk areas (corresponding to level 4).

Regarding testing, for all epidemic levels, only one of the following cases is required: suspected or indicated for epidemiological investigation coming from a level 3 epidemic area; or coming from a level 4 epidemic area or a medical quarantine area or blockade area. Testing is not required when traveling within the area. For people who have been fully vaccinated and have recovered, only one of the following cases is required: when there is a request for epidemiological investigation; or coming from a level 4 epidemic area (or a medical quarantine area or blockade area).

For drivers and vehicle service staff, periodic testing must be done once a week when arriving/returning from level 3 areas and once every 2 weeks when arriving/returning from level 2 areas. A negative SARS-CoV-2 test result must be valid within 72 hours of receiving the result (by RT-PCR method or rapid antigen test) when arriving/returning or working in level 4 areas.

Before, during and after the trip, if the driver or service staff on the vehicle has any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, loss of taste and smell, difficulty breathing..., it is necessary to monitor their health and immediately notify the transport unit and local health authorities to implement the epidemic handling process according to regulations. In case the trip has passengers, drivers, or service staff on the vehicle testing positive for SARS-CoV-2: follow the instructions of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control and the Ministry of Health.

The Department of Transport of Nghe An province requires vehicles to fully meet the conditions for technical safety inspection and environmental protection according to regulations; install journey monitoring devices and cameras on vehicles according to the provisions of Decree No. 10/2020/ND-CP and other relevant legal documents; Ensure requirements for Covid-19 prevention and control: must be equipped with antiseptic water, medical masks; must be cleaned and disinfected after each service.

Transport units must also regularly and proactively update information on the epidemic level; Develop and implement transport organization plans to ensure compliance with regulations on business, conditions for transport business by car and regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control; grasp information on routes and itineraries. Be responsible for monitoring, checking, and closely supervising the operation of vehicles and drivers throughout the transportation process; including strengthening inspection and supervision through journey monitoring devices and cameras installed on transport business cars. Self-organize random SARS-CoV-2 testing for people in their unit at high risk of Covid-19 infection....

Bus stations and rest stops are also responsible for regularly and proactively updating information on the epidemic level in the provinces and cities. Develop and implement plans and plans to pick up and drop off passengers to ensure safety, security, order, fire prevention and fighting, environmental protection and regulations on Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control; Arrange locations for functional forces to organize rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests; arrange temporary isolation rooms or areas to ensure ventilation; Arrange ticket sales areas, waiting rooms (for bus stations), where passengers get on and off vehicles to ensure social distancing and requirements on Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control of the Ministry of Health; In case drivers, service staff on vehicles, passengers, people working at bus stations and rest stops are found to have symptoms of fever, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, etc., they must be isolated and immediately notified to local health authorities for handling....