Hanoi (AFP)
Vietnam will suspend domestic flights as well as public land and sea transport to and from the tourist city of Da Nang (center), where the first cases of coronavirus in Vietnamese territory were recently reported for months, have the authorities announced Monday.
For nearly 100 days, this Southeast Asian country had not registered any new cases of Covid-19 and appeared to have eradicated the virus.
But with the discovery of these first recent cases of coronavirus, the Ministry of Transport announced on Monday restrictive measures in Da Nang, including the stopping of the circulation of buses and taxis, effective from midnight (5:00 p.m. GMT).
Until last week, Vietnamese tourists had flocked to the beaches and restaurants of this very touristy city of 1.1 million inhabitants.
More than twelve cases of Covid-19 have been detected after a positive test on Saturday of a 57-year-old Vietnamese pensioner in Da Nang, a first in Vietnam since April 16.
In the week, this city was to accommodate about 80,000 passengers on board planes performing domestic flights, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Earlier today, the organization said some airlines would increase the number of flights to get the most fearful passengers out of Da Nang.
But at nightfall, the Ministry of Transport announced that all air connections to and from this city would be suspended.
Trains, boats to the islands, buses, coaches or taxis will remain stationary there for 15 days.
The population is invited to stay at home and gatherings of more than two people are prohibited.
Vietnam has so far recorded 453 cases of Covid-19 and no deaths, earning praise for its handling of the outbreak.
This country, deconfined since the end of April, is still closed to foreign tourists.
© 2020 AFP