Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to temporarily suspend commercial flights while chairing a meeting on Covid-19 response on Tuesday. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presides over a meeting on Covid-19 response
at the Government Office, Ha Noi, December 1, 2020. Photo: VGP

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The decision was made one day after the Ministry of Health the first community infection case of Covid-19 (patient numbered 1,347), ending a streak of 88 consecutive days without a single local infection.

Meanwhile, the Government chief said ‘rescue’ flights will continue to bring citizens stranded abroad due to Covid-19.

He called for promoting the sense of responsibility and vigilance in all areas, especially big cities and strictly controlling entry.

The PM urged Ho Chi Minh City to promptly trace all F1 and F2 people in order to prevent the 3rd wave of community transmission.

The Ministry of Transport was asked to clarify responsibility of and strictly fine those who had violated the regulations on Covid-19 containment that led to the aforesaid community infection case.

The Ministry of Health was also tasked to organize mandatory quarantine of all crew members in accordance with current regulations on Covid-19 response.

All provinces and cities, especially Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Can Tho, Hai Phong must strengthen inspection of the observation of preventive regulations, including mask wearing and disinfection at supermarkets, hospitals, public transport means, schools, and factories among others.

All entrants must be subject to 14-day mandatory quarantine, PM Phuc ordered.

As reported on Monday, a 32-year-old English male teacher in Ho Chi Minh City contracted Covid-19 from his friend who is a flight attendant.

The flight attendant returned to Viet Nam on November 14 and was sent to a quarantine facility managed by the national flag carrier Viet Nam Airlines in Ho Chi Minh City until November 18.

After two negative Covid-19 tests, he was allowed to go home for self-isolation at No. 50, Bach Dang Street, Ward 2, Binh Thanh District.

During his home isolation, he had contacts with his mothers and two friends, including the English teacher.

More local infections confirmed

As of 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Viet Nam confirmed four more new patients. Of these two are Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Canada and the others contracted the virus from the English teacher.

Specifically, patient 1,348 is a one-year-old boy living in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City.

He is being treated at the Children’s Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

Patient 1,349 is a 28-year-old woman living in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City.

She is being treated at the Cu Chi field hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

Both of them had come in contact with the English teacher.

Patients 1,350 and 1,351 flew from Canada to the Van Don airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on November 16.

They are being treated at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the nearby province of Hai Duong.

The same day, 16 patients were declared free of Covid-19, raising the total recoveries to 1,195.

So far, Viet Nam has confirmed 35 deaths./.