'Heroes' on flight bringing Vietnamese citizens from Wuhan home

Crew members of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines are ready for a special flight to bring Vietnamese citizens from Wuhan, China, home. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAV), 11 Chinese airlines are operating 32 air routes from 14 destinations in China to Vietnam’s Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc with 240 flights per week. Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific and Vietjet Air are also operating 72 regular and charter routes from these five localities to 42 destinations in China with 401 flights per week. Many airlines of countries decided to suspend all flights from and to the world’s most populous country. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Members of the flight crew of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines are equipped with specialized medical protective gear before the flight. In the recent directive on the prevention and combat of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel virus originated from China’s Wuhan province, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam ordered airlines to not conduct regular flights and require additional licences for flights from Vietnam to China’s affected regions. Flights from and to affected areas in China must be restricted. The administration requested airports to step up inspection and coordinate with relevant agencies to carry out plans to prevent and cope with a possible virus outbreak. (Photo: Vietnam+)

In its recent directive on the prevention and combat of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel virus originated from China’s Wuhan province, the CAV ordered airlines to not conduct regular flights and require additional licences for flights from Vietnam to China’s affected regions. Flights from and to affected areas in China must be restricted, the CAV said. The administration requested airports to step up inspection and coordinate with relevant agencies to carry out plans to prevent and cope with a possible virus outbreak. In the photo: Captain Hoang Dinh Trang, one of the experienced pilots of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, prepares for the flight bringing Vietnamese citizens home from Wuhan city. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The strictest standards are applied to this special flight by the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines to bring Vietnamese citizens home from China’s Wuhan city, which is being hit severely by coronavirus. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the strain of coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, the respiratory illness responsible for the pandemic. Colloquially known as simply the coronavirus, it was previously referred to by its provisional name, 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and has also been called human coronavirus 2019 (HCoV-19 or hCoV-19). The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The first known infections from the SARS-CoV-2 strain were discovered in Wuhan, China. The original source of viral transmission to humans remains unclear, as does whether the strain became pathogenic before or after the spillover event. Because many of the first individuals found to be infected by the virus were workers at the Huanan Seafood Market, it has been suggested that the strain might have originated from the market. In January 2020, the World Health Organisation recommended "2019 novel coronavirus" (2019-nCov) as the provisional name for the virus. In the photo: Medical equipment and supplies of the Vietnamese Government and people presented to Chinese people to help them fight against the COVID-19 pandemic are also brought on this flight. (Photo: Vietnam+)

All crew members who are experienced staff of national flag carriers Vietnam Airlines are chosen for the flight to bring Vietnamese citizens from Wuan city, China home. Doctors and nurses of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases joined the crew to the African nation to ensure passengers’ health during the journey. Crew members were equipped with special protective clothing while separate zones and air purifiers were set up onboard. Right after landing at the airport, all the crew members, doctors and passengers of the flight were taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Disease Campus No.2 in Hà Nội's Đông Anh District for quarantine and treatment. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The flight does not serve meals, magazines, blankets and entertainment services to limit the risk of COVID-19 infection through repeated use of utensils. The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading very easily and sustainably between people. Information from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic suggests that this virus is spreading more efficiently than influenza, but not as efficiently as measles, which is highly contagious. In general, the more closely a person interacts with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Seats on the aircraft are covered with plastic to limit the spread of the coronavirus which caused COVID-19 between people flying home from Wuhan city, China. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Vietnam Airlines has routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. A disinfection procedure, which includes two steps – spraying disinfectant on the aircraft and cleaning equipment with “specialised liquid” has been developed. The airline said it has started to perform “thorough disinfection” in all passengers’ cabins, cockpits, galley areas, and particularly, frequently touched surfaces such as overhead compartments, armrests, headphones, buttons and so on. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Immediately after landing, the aid goods presented to Chinese people is transferred to Chinese representatives at Wuhan Airport, Wuhan city, China. According to the airline, it is now using the disinfectants – Disinfection Spraying Solution CH2200 and Netbiokem DSAM – which it said “pose no adverse health risks to passengers”. The airline added that it has also implemented other preventive measures prior to take-off, such as conducting health screenings for passengers at the airports, refusing to carry passengers who show symptoms, and arranging seats that are spaced apart from one another if possible. The virus that causes the disease is spreading very easily and sustainably between people. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Thirty Vietnamese citizens, including women and children, from Wuhan city, China neighbouring country line up on board with protective gears preparing to return Vietnam. The airline said the aircraft will continue to be operated 30 minutes after being disinfected and sanitised. The airline said it will also spray disinfectant on all aircraft and let the disinfectant soak overnight to maximise its effect on the day before it’s operated. Vietnam Airlines said all the procedures and chemicals used for the aircraft disinfection and sanitisation are in line with “the highest standards of the health and aviation sectors”. In general, the more closely a person interacts with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of the virus spread. (Photo: Vietnam+)

During the flight home, the medical staff measure passengers’ temperature and heart rate to ensure they are in good health condition and control COVID-19. Doctors and nurses of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases joined the crew to the African nation to ensure passengers’ health during the journey. Crew members were equipped with special protective clothing while separate zones and air purifiers were set up onboard. Right after landing at the airport, all the crew members, doctors and passengers of the flight were taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Disease Campus No. 2 in Ha Noi's Dong Anh District for quarantine and treatment. (Photo: Vietnam+)