Easing lockdown restrictions will follow a gradual, step-by-step approach.

The official dispatch states: In accordance with the directives of the Prime Minister, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, regarding the implementation of testing and some measures to prevent and control COVID-19 during social distancing and enhanced social distancing; following Official Dispatch No. 1409/CĐ-BYT dated September 15, 2021, the Ministry of Health - the Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee - requests the Steering Committees for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of provinces and centrally-administered cities to urgently implement the directives and conclusions of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the guidance of the Ministry of Health in Official Dispatch 1409/CĐ-BYT on testing and some measures to prevent and control the epidemic during social distancing.

The Steering Committees for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in provinces and centrally-administered cities need to disseminate this information to all districts, communes, and towns; focusing implementation in areas with very high risk and high risk.

The official dispatch also stated that, based on the results of implementation, localities will decide on easing social distancing measures according to the principle of implementing a roadmap and gradually lowering the risk level step by step, in a sure manner.

In high-risk areas (yellow zones) and areas classified as "new normal" (green zones), units conduct testing in high-risk groups and locations to promptly adjust disease prevention and control measures accordingly.

* Previously, in Official Dispatch 1409/CĐ-BYT, the Ministry of Health requested that provinces and cities, when implementing social distancing, must determine the scope and scale of the distancing. The principle is to keep it in the smallest, narrowest area possible, such as villages, hamlets, neighborhoods, etc.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that rapid testing is crucial for early control of the epidemic. For very high-risk and high-risk areas (red and orange zones), localities must test all residents three times in seven days, prioritizing the use of rapid antigen tests to detect F0 cases in order to isolate the source of infection and provide timely treatment.

The units may combine rapid antigen tests and RT-PCR tests.

In other areas, testing is conducted every 5-7 days, with sample pooling based on practical conditions, by household, room, and neighboring households.

Local authorities are concentrating sampling efforts in very high-risk and high-risk areas; dividing sampling points into smaller groups and organizing multiple sampling teams; and rapid antigen testing can be carried out by volunteers or local residents.