Da Nang intensifies checks at entry/exit points to detect illegal immigrants amid fears over COVID-19 spread

Amidst the globally complicated COVID-19 crisis, like other Vietnamese localities, Da Nang has been paying a special heed to detecting and handling any illegal border jumpers who might bring the deadly coronavirus into Viet Nam.

Over recent times, Da Nang traffic police officers have increased their regular patrols and inspections over major entry/exit points in the city in order to detect and handle those who are found taking advantage of road traffic activities to commit illegal acts, especially the smuggling of foreign nationals into Vietnamese territory.

Recent days have seen local officials and men, who are in charge of supervising a Lien Chieu District-located gateway to the south of the Hai Van Tunnel, have worked around the clock with a high sense of work responsibilities.

Located on the National Highway 1A, the major north – south commodity trade route, large numbers of vehicles of all types travel through the tunnel every day, which puts much work pressure on the law enforcement force.

In particular, the traffic police always pull over above -16-seater passenger coaches running through the tunnel for inspections. Accordingly, all passenger onboard are required to show their personal papers.

Major General Vu Xuan Vien, the Director of the Da Nang Police Department affirmed his unit’s strong stance on continuing to detect and deal with illegal immigrations in light of globally complicated COVID-19 pandemic.

During the past ten days of December, 2020, Da Nang police discovered a total of 10 Chinese nationals who have been found having illegally entered Viet Nam. Such detections continued sparking public deep concerns over more COVID-19 transmissions in Viet Nam from such border jumpers. On 26 December, a Vietnamese who illegally crossed the border from Cambodia tested positive for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

More recently, patient 1,435, a Vietnamese woman repatriated from the UK, has been confirmed as the first Covid-19 case with VOC 202012/01, a recently found and highly contagious variant of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, in Viet Nam.

As the new variant spreads rapidly, strict monitoring of both illegal and legal entries is needed. A worrying problem now is people who enter the country illegally, so the public’s coordination with authorities is highly necessary for ensuring good control of the pandemic, a domestic health expert said.

Viet Nam has temporarily halted entry to all foreigners since 22 March, citing deep concerns over the spread of the complicated COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnamese government merely allows entry to skilled workers, experts, diplomats, and Vietnamese repatriates in dire situations, and all of them are completely subject to mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

As stipulated in the Vietnamese laws, any foreigners who enter Viet Nam illicitly or stay in the country illegally must undergo medical examinations and epidemiological investigations before being sent back to their home country.

Source: Da Nang Today