Strengthen Covid-19 pandemic prevention at Tan Thanh border gate

According to Dong Dang - Lang Son Border-gate Economic Zone Authority, facing the complex situation of Covid-19 pandemic across the country, Tan Thanh border gate is a very vibrant place of import – export activities, so vehicles’ operators transporting goods from inland to Lang Son province to export to China via Tan Thanh border-gate are potential risks of spreading the pandemic at a high level.

Talking to reporters, Hoang Thi Thieu Hoa, Deputy Manager of Tan Thanh Customs Branch (Lang Son Customs Department) said at Tan Thanh border gate, there were about 600-700 vehicles transporting export goods from all localities in the country to gather in there. The risk of infection was very high, so it was necessary to survey the dining area serving for domestic drivers when bringing goods to the border gate.

Cargo trucks cleared at Tan Thanh - Po Chai border gate dedicated route are disinfected. Photo: Sơn Hà

At Tan Thanh's border gate, Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone Authority has established the anti-pandemic team which included border defence force, customs and quarantine, and is deploying anti-pandemic checkpoints gateway of Bao Nguyen Trading Transport Joint Stock Company.

The forces performing task will implement disinfection and protection measures for all people person on exit and entry, at 24/24 hours. Conducting inspection, supervision and urging organisations, individuals and enterprises carrying out anti-pandemic meausres to ensure import and export activities in the border gate area are operated smoothly.

However, according to Hoang Khanh Duy, Deputy Director of Dong Dang - Lang Son Border-gate Economic Zone Authority, the situation of Covid-19 was very complex, especially the southern provinces which were exported agricultural products and fresh fruits mainly via Tan Thanh border gate. In the past, there was a case of driver who was F0 – positive result of Covid-19 infection, who transported goods from HCM City to Lao Cai border gate for exporting. Therefore, to minimise the risk of infection, avoiding affect to import and export activities, which is the basis for promoting negotiations with China to facilitate import and export activities (at present, due to concerns over the pandemic situation in Vietnam, China has strengthened the application of pandemic prevention measures for people and vehicles entering from China).

According to Hoang Xuan Vinh, Deputy Director of Bao Nguyen Trading Transport Joint Stock Company, Kiot areas in the parking lot which were rented by business households, could be arranged about 300 domestic drivers to rest. However, due to no policy so when bringing goods to Tan Thanh border gate, domestic drivers did not rent a room in the parking lot. They found hotels in the border gate area to rest. This also makes it more difficult for pandemic prevention.

With the current situation and identifying the possible situation, Dong Dang - Lang Son border-gate economic zone authority proposed Lang Son Provincial People's Committee consider moving the quarantine checkpoint from the bus station of Bao Nguyen Trading Transport Joint Stock Company to B2 Gate and install sterilisation spray system for the entire transport vehicles at B2gate.

At the same time adding a quarantine checkpoint at B2 Gate, the immigration line. It is necessary to study a plan to arrange a restricted area serving for vehicle’s operators transporting goods from inland to Tan Thanh border gate for export.