Urgent request to strictly implement regulations on centralized isolation and post-isolation management

Accordingly, in the urgent telegram sent to ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies; The People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and the Steering Committee said that recently, the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control and the Ministry of Health have issued specific guidelines on the management of centralized quarantine, especially the handover of cases after the end of quarantine (Official Dispatch No. 425/CV-BCĐ dated January 19, 2021, Official Dispatch No. 1640/CD-BCĐ dated October 15, 2020, Decisions No. 878/QD-BYT dated March 12, 2020; No. 1246/QD-BYT dated March 20, 2020 and Decision No. 3468/QD-BYT dated August 7, 2020, Official Dispatch No. 425/CV-BCĐ dated January 19, 2021).

However, in recent times, there have been some centralized quarantine facilities (managed by the military and civilians) that have not strictly implemented current regulations. Currently, the situationCovid-19 epidemicThe situation in the world is still very complicated, continuously recording new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, continuing to increase in the number of infected people and deaths; therefore, the risk of the epidemic entering the country is very high and there is a risk of spreading to the community.

A working delegation from the Provincial People's Committee and the Nghe An Department of Health inspected the reception and treatment of Covid-19 patients at Thanh Chuong General Hospital. Photo courtesy of Thanh Chung

Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health (Standing Body of the National Steering Committee) telegraphed and requested ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies and People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to continue to thoroughly grasp the spirit of fighting the epidemic at the highest level of vigilance, not to be subjective or negligent; associated with the responsibility of the heads of localities and units in implementing activities to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic and direct the implementation of the following contents:

Strictly implement the directions of the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee and the Ministry of Health.regulations on strict management of cases of entry into Vietnam; strengthening direction, inspection, supervision, and strict handling of organizations and individuals violating centralized quarantine, handover after quarantine ends, and management after centralized quarantine at home, place of residence, and other relevant documents on management of people entering and leaving the country.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city directs the strict implementation of the following contents:Implement centralized quarantine for at least 14 days for entrants according to current regulations and manage and monitor health at home or place of residence for the next 14 days after the end of centralized quarantine;

Checking Covid-19 vaccination activities in Con Cuong district. Photo courtesy of Thanh Chung

Review facilities at centralized quarantine areas to ensure close monitoring of quarantined people; centralized quarantine areas must have enough cameras to monitor quarantined people implementing Covid-19 prevention and control measures according to regulations; surveillance cameras must operate continuously and be connected to the monitoring system designated by the Ministry of Information and Communications;

Correct the organization of handover, pick-up and drop-off of people who have completed centralized quarantine to their place of residence according to the regulations in Official Dispatch 425/CV-BCĐ dated January 19, 2021 of the National Steering Committee on instructions for handover and management after completing centralized quarantine:

Request person after completioncentralized quarantinemust commit to implementing the following contents: Apply epidemic prevention and control measures and self-monitor health at home and place of residence, and must proactively notify the local health authority of the place of residence immediately upon returning from the centralized quarantine area;

Must use information technology applications to monitor the implementation of epidemic prevention and control during the health monitoring period at home or place of residence;

Daily health declarations must be made to local health officials. "If there are signs of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, chills, loss of taste, immediately go to a medical facility for timely management instructions according to regulations. Do not leave your home or place of residence; if you are forced to leave your home or place of residence to work or perform other necessary tasks, you must notify the local police and health authorities and strictly follow the Ministry of Health's "5K" recommendations (mask - distance - no gathering - disinfection - health declaration); do not gather or go to crowded places" - The telegram clearly stated.

In case it is necessary to move to another locality, the agency or unit receiving the expert (for experts) or Vietnamese citizen must notify in advance the Center for Disease Control of the province or city where the expert is staying to notify the Center for Disease Control of the province or city where the expert is going to continue to manage and monitor their health according to regulations;

SARS-CoV-2 virus test must be performed on the 7th day (from the end of centralized quarantine). If the test result is negative, continue to monitor health according to regulations until 14 days have passed; if the test result is positive, quarantine immediately at a medical facility according to regulations.

The Department of Health of the province or city where the centralized quarantine is carried out must prepare a dossier including a list of people who have completed centralized quarantine (phone number and/or email, address of residence) and copies of related documents such as the decision or certificate of completion of quarantine, test results according to regulations, and a plan for transportation to hand over (in many forms: via document, email...) to the Department of Health of the province or city where the quarantined people who have completed centralized quarantine are sent to their place of residence and confirm the handover.

In case there are not enough handover documents, handover confirmation and travel plan, quarantine will not be accepted to the place of residence.

Direct local health authorities to monitor, track health and take samples for SARS-CoV-2 virus testing for people after completing centralized quarantine as prescribed.

Nghe An medical staff measure the body temperature of people in quarantine to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo courtesy of Thanh Chung

Strengthen the activities of community COVID Teams, mobilize the Fatherland Front and political and social organizations to monitor and supervise the implementation of epidemic prevention and control requirements for people who have completed centralized quarantine and returned to their place of residence in the area.

The Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of provinces and cities regularly inspects the implementation of centralized isolation at least once every 15 days/facility.

Apply self-health monitoring at home and place of residence, and proactively notify local health authorities of the place of residence immediately upon returning from the centralized quarantine area.