Provinces do not require people entering the area to present Covid-19 test results

On November 8, the Ministry of Health sent an urgent dispatch to ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies and People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities on the implementation of Resolution 128 of the Government (Temporary regulations "Safe and flexible adaptation, effective control of Covid-19 epidemic").

In the dispatch, the Ministry of Health requested ministries, branches and localities to continue to proactively strengthen screening, monitoring and testing of high-risk cases coming from epidemic areas according to instructions. Specifically:

Regarding SARS-CoV-2 testing organization:

Localities and units take the initiativeSars-COV-2 testby RT-PCR or rapid antigen testing; no requirement for people to present test results when entering the province or city.

Taking Covid-19 test samples. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

In case of positive test results for SARS-CoV-2, it will be handled according to regulations. Based on the actual conditions in the locality, the Department of Health directs the management of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 at medical facilities or at home according to instructions and sets up mobile medical stations to ensure health care, disease prevention and control for people.

Regarding quarantine and health monitoring:

The Ministry of Health emphasizes that people who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (green card on the Electronic Health Book or certificate of full vaccination issued by a competent authority) or have recovered from Covid-19 within 6 months from the time of returning to their locality (with a hospital discharge certificate/certificate of recovery) should self-monitor their health at home or their place of residence for 7 days from the date of returning to their locality.

In addition, strictly follow the "5K" message; perform SARS-CoV-2 test on the first day. If there are unusual health signs such as cough, fever, difficulty breathing, sore throat, loss of taste, it is necessary to notify the health authority for monitoring and treatment according to regulations.

For those who have not received enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine (yellow card on the Electronic Health Book or vaccination certificate issued by a competent authority), they must quarantine at home or at their place of residence for 7 days from the date of return to their locality, and continue to self-monitor their health for the next 7 days. Always follow the "5K" message, and perform a SARS-CoV-2 test on the first and seventh days from the date of return to their locality.

The concentrated quarantine area built with bamboo and leaves in Nam Can commune. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

Those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 are required to quarantine for 14 days from the date of return to their locality; continue to self-monitor their health for the next 14 days. Strictly follow the "5K" message, test for SARS-CoV-2 on the first, seventh and fourteenth days from the date of return to their locality.

In case of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 abroad, the verification and recognition of vaccination certificates, recovery certificates or other equivalent foreign documents shall follow the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the dispatch, the Ministry of Health also requested ministries, branches and localities to direct production and business establishments, service establishments, trade centers, supermarkets, agencies and offices to strictly organize SARS-CoV-2 testing for workers.

Specifically, testing when one of the following symptoms is present: fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, loss of taste and smell, difficulty breathing... or there are epidemiological factors; testing when reorganizing production; random testing of workers at high risk of Covid-19 infection.

Pooling samples is used for routine testing and screening. If using a rapid antigen test, 3-5 samples will be pooled, and if using an RT-PCR test, 10-20 samples will be pooled.

Based on the actual situation of labor establishments in the area, localities proactively make specific decisions according to each epidemic level regarding: frequency and rate of random testing for workers at high risk of infection; plans for organizing centralized accommodation, isolation and production organization when there is an epidemic at the labor establishment. Stop applying contents related to frequency, rate of testing, plans for centralized accommodation, isolation, and production organization when there is an epidemic at the labor establishment.