Nghe An: Passenger buses are "covered" and waiting, trucks are bustling in and out of the station.

After Vinh City changed its status to social distancing according toDirective 15Since September 13, freight vehicles have started to operate busily again, especially in the Vinh Market Bus Station area.

According to our observations, the Vinh Market Bus Station area at this time often has intra-provincial and inter-provincial transport vehicles operating, on average each day there are about 100-120 trucks gathering here to transport goods from agents and distributors to all localities.

Many freight vehicles have resumed operations. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Le Van Khuyen - Head of Vinh Market Bus Station said: Because when Vinh City implemented social distancing according to Directive 16 and Directive 16 was at a higher level, the amount of goods was very congested. Therefore, when the state of social distancing was changed, the means of transport had to immediately return to operation. However, compared to the time before the epidemic, at this time the amount ofmeans of transportonly reached about 50-70%, while the demand for loading and unloading goods increased.

The number of people and vehicles entering and exiting Vinh Market Bus Station is quite busy. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Khuyen also informed that for vehicles from other provinces from Quang Binh and Ha Tinh to load and unload goods, when entering and leaving the control point in Vinh City, they had to provide necessary documents for the authorities to check, so when entering the station, they only reported information about the people participating in activities at the station to know the list and schedule. In addition, the bus station management unit also regularly broadcasts information about disease prevention and control work so that people operating at the station can grasp the situation.

In particular, Mr. Khuyen also proposed that localities should soonCovid-19 vaccinationfor drivers, conductors and those who load and unload goods at the port, because this is also an area that is often crowded, posing a risk of disease outbreaks.

Many opinions suggest prioritizing Covid-19 vaccination for people who regularly work loading and unloading goods and drivers and assistants working at bus stations. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Tien, a truck driver on the Vinh - Huong Son route (Ha Tinh), said: Although he had registered to operate on the green lane and had a QR Code, due to the time when Vinh City implemented enhanced isolation according to Directive 16, travel was difficult, so he only resumed operations after switching to social distancing according to Directive 15. However, due to many strict epidemic control regulations, including the mandatory requirement of a Covid-19 test certificate, the cost for each trip also increased.

In contrast to the somewhat bustling image at Vinh Market Bus Station, at Bac Vinh Bus Station, passenger transport vehicles are lining up at the station. In addition to the intra-provincial passenger transport vehicles that have been operating, many inter-provincial passenger transport routes are still suspended. However, in reality, due to fear of the epidemic, the number of travelers is still low, so many intra-provincial transport vehicles are still not operating, or operating at a low level.

Interprovincial passenger transport vehicles have been stuck waiting to resume operations for more than a month now. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Mai Xuan Viet - Deputy Head of the Transport Department, Nghe An Department of Transport said: Currently, intra-provincial and inter-provincial passenger transport activities are being applied according to Document No. 2926/SGTVT-VT dated August 20, 2021 of the Department of Transport. In particular, the regulations for localities implementing social distancing according to Directive 15 stipulate that transport businesses are allowed to operate no more than 50% of the number of vehicles of the unit; each trip can only transport a maximum of 50% of seats and no more than 20 people including drivers and assistants. In addition, vehicles also need to strictly comply with epidemic prevention regulations.

Mr. Viet also said that currently, the Department of Transport is continuing to monitor the epidemic situation and is waiting for instructions from the Provincial People's Committee to have a new plan.

Inter-provincial passenger transport routes to and from Nghe An are temporarily suspended:

1. Cao Bang

2. Lai Chau

3. Son La

4. Quang Ninh

5. Thai Nguyen

6. Hai Phong

8. Bac Giang

9. Bac Ninh

10. Hai Duong

11. Hanoi

12. Nam Dinh

13. Ninh Binh

14. Thanh Hoa

15. All southern provinces and cities from Ha Tinh onwards.