Solving the treatment regimen for F0 at home

REVIEW, UNIFORM THE QUARANTINE TIME

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thin (Nam Dan) shared: “After 7 days of self-treating Covid-19 at home, on February 22, I went to the commune health station to get tested again and confirmed that I was negative. However, the commune asked me to stay at home and self-isolate for another 7 days to complete the isolation treatment, even though I had received all 3 doses of the vaccine.”

Ms. Le Thi Mai, a worker at Minh Anh Garment Joint Stock Company - Do Luong, said: "I am worried about whether those 14 days off will be covered under the regulations of the Social Insurance or not? Both my husband and I are workers, and having to take many days off without income makes my family's life very difficult."

Thanh Chuong District Labor Federation talks and grasps workers' aspirations. Photo: PV

The number of F0 workers is increasing day by day, the number of F1 workers is also increasing rapidly, making the business and production situation in enterprises extremely difficult, the shortage of human resources is becoming more and more serious. According to the report from the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone, the total number of workers before Tet was 34,786 people. In the first week of work after Tet holiday, 93% remained and in the second week, from February 13 to 22, 2022, it only reached 50-60%. The number of workers laid off mainly falls in foreign-invested enterprises.

At Luxshare-ICT Nghe An Co., Ltd., there were days when only 37% of workers showed up to work. This led to a decline in business and production progress, forcing businesses to push orders to other production locations.

Not only in the Southeast Economic Zone, other businesses in the province are also struggling because of the epidemic. “In Do Luong, through a survey of large businesses in the district, the shortage of human resources is extremely serious, directly affecting business and production. Specifically, as of February 21, at Minh Anh Do Luong Garment Company, there were 2,0810 F0, only nearly 2,000/4,500 workers went to work; At Kido Vinh Company, there were 506 F0, nearly 2,800/3,700 workers went to work” - Mr. Le Van Lai, Vice Chairman of the Do Luong District Labor Federation shared.

Vinh City Labor Federation posted QR codes so that workers can send their suggestions and questions via Zalo. Photo: PV

Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet - Vice President of the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union said: Business leaders and workers want to have a document directing epidemic prevention and control work according to the new situation because if the quarantine regulations of the Ministry of Health are properly implemented,severe shortage of human resourcesfor business and production activities and affect workers' income and life.

MANY CONCERNS ABOUT HOME TREATMENT FOR F0

Recently, the number of F0 is large, many F0 have tohome treatmentTherefore, this issue has received the attention and questions of many workers. Accordingly, thousands of workers in the province have not been able to receive F0 treatment at home because commune-level medical staff are not authorized to confirm the certificate of leave from work to receive social insurance according to the form prescribed in Circular 56/2017/TT-BYT.

The issue of resolving the treatment regime for F0 at home has received the attention of many workers. Photo: PV

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tan (Hung Tay, Hung Nguyen) shared: “When I tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus, I reported to the commune health station and quarantined myself at home. After the treatment period, although I had all the documents from the company and other related units, when I went to the commune health station to apply for a certificate of leave to receive social insurance, it was rejected because there were no instructions from the Department of Health. Therefore, I have not been able to complete the procedures to resolve the regime for F0”. From this problem, many workers who do not understand the problem clearly think that local health facilities make it difficult to resolve procedures for workers.

Regarding the allowance for F0 workers who are off work for treatment, Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc, HR officer of SangWoo Vietnam Co., Ltd., is worried: "F0 is treated for 7 to 10 days, the locality requires an additional 7 days of isolation to self-monitor their health. So are these 7 days counted as social insurance leave time, and are they recorded in the social insurance leave certificate? In many localities, the certificate for workers does not include the 7 days of isolation after testing negative. If the business has to pay for those 7 days, the damage will be huge."

Thai Hoa Town Labor Federation grasps the situation of enterprises and workers. Photo: PV

“After understanding the concerns of workers, on February 22, the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union sent a document to Nghe An Provincial Social Insurance and Nghe An Department of Health to provide guidance and implement procedures for receiving F0 treatment at home. Specifically, it is recommended that the health sector soon issue a document instructing the commune, ward, and town health stations to issue certificates for F0 cases who have completed isolation and treatment at home, to ensure the rights of workers to later enjoy social insurance and other benefits in accordance with regulations. Avoid the case of being F0, but those who are treated in a centralized facility are entitled to benefits because they have a certificate of centralized treatment, while those who are treated at home are not entitled to benefits because they do not have a certificate from the health agency,” said Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet.

After receiving Official Dispatch No. 08/CĐKKT dated February 22 of the Trade Union of the Southeast Economic Zone regarding the request for guidance and implementation of procedures for enjoying F0 benefits for COVID-19 treatment at home, on the morning of February 23, 2022, the Department of Health issued Document 748/SYT-NVY, directing the Commune/Ward/Town Health Stations to:

- Strictly and fully implement the information in the records of management, monitoring and treatment of COVID-19 patients at home according to regulations. The prescription of medication must have detailed medical orders and be closely monitored; complete the records immediately after the end of monitoring, management and treatment.

- Provide for COVID-19 patients treated at home who have recovered:

+ Certificate of completion of quarantine and treatment period for COVID-19 patients at home (according to attached form).

+ Certificate of leave of absence to receive social insurance (form in Appendix 7 issued with Circular No. 56/2017/TT-BYT dated December 29, 2017 of the Ministry of Health) if necessary.

- The Health Station only issues a certificate of leave from work to receive social insurance for cases where there is a decision to quarantine COVID-19 patients (F0) treated at home/place of residence; the treatment management records have been completed; and the quarantine period has been confirmed.