HCMC – The Ministry of Transport has proposed that the Ministry of Health scrap the mandatory Covid-19 test for children below 12 years of age when they travel by air, following national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines' proposal on the issue.

The Transport Ministry also requested the Health Ministry to adjust Covid testing requirements for the cabin crew of domestic flights. Last week, Vietnam Airlines proposed the Transport Ministry consider eliminating the Covid testing mandate for pilots and flight attendants working on domestic flights and abolishing the testing mandate for air passengers under 12. Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh then asked the Health Ministry to coordinate with the Transport Ministry to review and adjust Covid-safe measures for passengers while ensuring the effective control of the pandemic. According to the prevailing regulations of the Health Ministry, air passengers from areas at extremely high risk of Covid transmission or under lockdown have to show proof of a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours before departure. Other passengers have to meet one of the three requirements: be fully vaccinated, prove they have recovered from Covid over the last six months, or have a negative Covid testing certificate within 72 hours ahead of their scheduled flight. This means that unvaccinated kids under the age of 12 have to take a Covid test before flying. Besides, air passengers have to make health declarations and use the PC-Covid mobile app. Those who develop symptoms of Covid such as coughing, fever, shortness of breath, muscle pain, sore throat and loss of taste will be banned from flying.