Nghe An guides on quarantine and testing for each subject returning from other provinces and cities.

On the afternoon of October 16, the Provincial Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command CenterNghe Anissued Official Dispatch No. 5022/TTCH-SYT on temporary guidance on medical expertise to implement Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP of the Government to provincial departments, branches and sectors and the Steering Committee for epidemic prevention and control.Covid-19districts, cities, towns

The guidance of the Nghe An Province Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center has three main contents, including: Organizing assessment and determining the epidemic level in the locality; testing for groups of subjects, people returning from epidemic areas; and quarantine work.

Instructions from the Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center of Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Chung

I. ORGANIZING ASSESSMENT AND DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF THE DISEASE

The Provincial Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center requests the Covid-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committees of districts, cities and towns to base on the criteria and actual situation of the epidemic developments in the area to organize assessment and determine the epidemic level according to the instructions in Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT dated October 12, 2021 of the Ministry of Health for each area at the commune level, inter-commune level or lower in the area to organize weekly announcements or in the case of unusual epidemic developments on the province's Covid-19 information portal and report to the Provincial Command Center (through the Department of Health). For the conversion of epidemic levels at the district level, it is required to report and ask for the opinion of the Provincial Command Center before announcing.

II. TESTING WORK

The Provincial Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center requests to continue testing for localities and target groups as instructed in Official Dispatch No. 4620/TTCH-SYT dated September 26, 2021 of the Provincial Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center until further instructions are given.

Testing is only performed for cases coming from areas with epidemics at level 4 or regional medical isolation (blockade); suspected cases or cases with indications for epidemiological investigation coming from areas with epidemics at level 3 and 19 southern provinces and cities (Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Long An, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh).

Depending on risk factors, disease situation and outbreak level, localities decide on appropriate testing subjects and locations.

III. MEDICAL ISOLATION:

1 - For people traveling from epidemic areas (very high-risk areas - level 4 or medical quarantine areas) and 4 provinces and cities (Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An provinces):

- People who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (with a certificate of full vaccination at least 14 days and no more than 12 months from the time of travel) or have recovered from Covid-19 (with a certificate of recovery from Covid-19 or a hospital discharge certificate no more than 6 months from the time of arrival/return to the locality):Isolate at home, place of residence for 7 days, follow the "5K" Message and test RT-PCR or rapid antigen test twice on the first day and the 7th day.

- People who have not received enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine:Centralized quarantine for 7 days, continue quarantineat home, accommodationFor the next 7 days, always follow the "5K" Message; perform 3 tests on the first and 7th day of centralized quarantine (RT-PCR test or single-sample rapid antigen test); the 3rd time on the 7th day from the date of home quarantine or place of residence.

- Unvaccinated people:Centralized medical isolation for 14 days from the date of arrival/return to the locality. Continue to monitor health at home, place of residence (limit contact, gathering in crowded places, record a list of contacts within 14 days; when there is a need to leave the locality, notify the authorities, medical facilities where you are staying for information and monitoring) at least 14 days from the date of the Decision to complete centralized isolation). RT-PCR test (pooled sample) at least 3 times on the first day, the 7th day and the 13th day of centralized isolation (all tests are in the form of pooled samples). Continue to take samples for single-sample rapid antigen testing (or RT-PCR pooled sample) on the 7th day from the date of isolation at home, place of residence.

2. People traveling from high-risk areas (level 3) and the remaining 15 southern provinces and cities:

-People who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from Covid-19:Self-monitor your health at home or at your place of residence for 7 days and have a single rapid antigen test (or pooled RT-PCR test) on the 7th day from the date of return to your locality. Immediately notify your local health authority if you experience symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.

- People who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine:Isolate at home or at your place of residence for at least 7 days from the date of arrival/return to your locality. Implement the "5K" message. Perform a single rapid antigen test (or pooled RT-PCR test) twice on the first and seventh day.

3. People traveling from risk areas (level 2) and new normal areas (level 1):Make a medical declaration, follow the "5K" message, and self-monitor your health for 7 days from the date of arrival/return to your locality.

4. Participants in the working group according to the decision of competent authorities in districts, cities, towns where there are identified very high-risk areas (level 4) and 4 provinces and cities (Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An provinces) to lower areas:

- People who have received full doses of Covid-19 vaccine or have recovered from Covid-19: Self-monitor health for 7 days, follow the "5K" message, always wear a mask, do not gather or go to crowded places; RT-PCR test twice on the first day and the 7th day from the date of arrival/return.

- People who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine: Quarantine at home or at their place of residence for 3 days from the date of arrival/return to their locality, always follow the "5K" message. Continue to self-monitor their health until 14 days have passed since arriving/returning to their locality. Take 2 RT-PCR tests on the first and third days from the date of quarantine at their place of residence. Continue testing on the 7th day from the date of arrival/return.

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

5. For forces participating in supporting the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic after completing their tasks (medical staff and forces participating in supporting the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic at Covid-19 collection and treatment facilities and forces in centralized quarantine facilities where cases of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases are recorded) as follows:

- For those who have received a full dose of Covid-19 vaccine or have recovered from Covid-19: Conduct centralized medical isolation for 7 days from the date of arrival/return to the locality, organize SARS-COV-2 testing using the RT-PCR method (2 times) on the 3rd and 6th day from the date of arrival/return to the locality. Continue to self-monitor your health for the next 7 days, fully implement the "5K" Message of the Ministry of Health.

- For cases of not being vaccinated or not receiving enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine:Perform centralized quarantine for 7 days from the date of arrival/return to the locality. Continue to isolate at home for 7 days from the date of completion of centralized quarantine. Perform SARS-COV-2 test using RT-PCR method (3 times) on the 3rd day, the 6th day of centralized quarantine and the 7th day from the date of completion of centralized quarantine. Self-monitor health for the next 7 days, fully implement the "5K" message.

The guidelines also state: For the elderly, people with underlying diseases, pregnant women, and people under 18 years old (children), they must quarantine at home and have a caregiver quarantine with them.