(VOVWORLD) - The Vietnamese government has carried out drastic measures to fight COVID-19, including arresting and punishing anyone attempting to illegally enter or exit Vietnam. The army and police are aiding border guards in enforcing these measures.
 Border soldiers in Lai Chau province set up a border control station. |
The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministries of Defense, Public Security, and Foreign Affairs to strengthen the management of all immigration into Vietnam. He has assigned the Ministry of Public Security, the Procuracy, and the court sector to investigate and prosecute all illegal entries.
Additional border patrol teams and stations have been set up. 10 working teams have been formed to manage the border from the north to the south, and hundreds of soldiers and students have been mobilized to help the northern border region fight the pandemic.
Deputy Commander of the Border Guard Major General Le Duc Thai said: “We have increased the number of border patrol units and soldiers. We rotate on-duty soldiers every month to ensure their health for long-term missions. We anticipate that the epidemic may be a long-term mission.”
The army and police forces are always on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, said Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Tran Don: “The border guard needs to punish those who help people to illegally enter Vietnam. We are always ready to do our duty for the nation and the people.”
Thousands of people caught illegally entering Vietnam have been arrested and sent to quarantine centers according to the law.