Chairman of Quang Ninh PPC inspects Covid-19 prevention and control activities over inland waterways

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee cum Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Tuong Van, visited some waterway and sea ports in Van Don district and Cam Pha city to supervise the prevention and control of Covid-19 pandemic.

As reported by Van Don authorities, a team establihed by the district is responsible for controlling the disease situation at Cai Rong port. Add to this 5 island communes have also established own their teams in charge of controlling activities on inland waterways. These teams have strengthened their inspection over 44 offshore fishing vessels with about 320 local crew members, 964 coastal fishing vessels with more than 2,000 crew members. Waterway goods transportation, food supply and intra-provincial trade vehicles have been under strict control.

Cam Pha city has established 17 checkpoints at local ports and wharfs to tighten pandemic prevention and control, especially over inland waterways. Functional forces at these checkpoints are on duty 24 hours. Particularly, each crew member on cargo ships from other provinces must present a certificate with a negative COVID-19 test result carried out a maximum of 72 hours before arrival and they are only allowed to disembark after fulfilling all defined requirements; administrative procedures are processed through digital applications to avoid contact between port forces and seafarers.

The Provincial Border Guard Command has also co-operated with local authorities to establish many anti-pandemic checkpoints in Van Don district and Cam Pha city to control seafarers from disembarking, strengthen propaganda and resolutely punish fishermen who dock international cargo ships without permission.

During his visit, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Tuong Van, emphasized that Quang Ninh province has drastically implemented synchronous measures against Covid-19 in order to maintain safety across the province.

Due to the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic in other localities nationwide, the Chairman requested Van Don district and Cam Pha city to work closely with relevant sectors to strictly control international cargo ships arrived. The two localities also have to ensure the crew must have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 before carrying out goods delivery and receipt. During the loading process, port staff is not permitted to come into contact with the crew.

20% of the workers at ports and wharfs must be weekly tested for SARS-Cov2. The authorities have to promote the effectiveness of pandemic prevention and control checkpoints, especially in preventing crew members from disembarking without permission. Simultaneously, technologies should be applied into administrative procedures, which not only helps avoid contact between port forces and crew members, but also shortens the duration of administrative procedures.