Vietnam will start charging all arrivals for their mandatory quarantine starting in September, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated during a meeting on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevention and control on Sunday.

The COVID-19 epidemic has been put under control throughout Vietnam thanks to multiple prevention measures and appropriate implementation of social distancing, PM Phuc said at the gathering.

He called on all people to remain vigilant and be prepared for any situation as the country is still striving to achieve the goals of fighting COVID-19 and boosting public investment, imports-exports, production, and socio-economic development.

From September 1, all arrivals to Vietnam will have to pay for the cost of their mandatory 14-day quarantine, the premier said, adding that COVID-19 treatment will still be funded by state coffers.

Stays at quarantine centers in Vietnam have been free of charge, but people can opt to spend their quarantine at local hotels for a fee.

Aside from arranging the repatriation of Vietnamese citizens, Vietnam should also provide favorable conditions for foreign experts, investors, and skilled laborers to enter the country to facilitate economic development.

PM Phuc agreed to allow senior personnel of South Korean enterprises to enter Vietnam and conduct their short-term business trips.

He also urged the early reopening of commercial flights between Vietnam and South Korea, Japan, and areas where the pandemic has been properly controlled.

The country will prioritize arranging flights for Vietnamese laborers to travel to South Korea and Japan for work.

The prime minister suggested that competent authorities start planning on providing further support for businesses and residents affected by the epidemic.

Vietnam has recorded 1,040 COVID-19 cases, with 695 having recovered and 32 deaths as of Monday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

The country has logged 550 local cases since July 25, when Da Nang detected the first domestic infection after Vietnam had gone 99 days without documenting any community transmission.

No new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Vietnam on Sunday, the first zero-case day in five weeks.

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