To: People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities (hereinafter referred to as “provincial People’s Committees”).

As the COVID-19 pandemic is progressing unpredictably, some localities start spraying chemical disinfectants in public places to prevent the disease; some locations, workplaces and organizations have installed disinfection booths to spray chemical disinfectants on those standing in the booths; some units use spraying machines to spray chemical disinfectants on quarantined persons, persons entering Vietnam, etc.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), places such as streets and sidewalks do not contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Outdoor chemical disinfectant spraying is not recommended by WHO or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (U.S. CDC) as it is ineffective and might be harmful to the sprayers and persons in areas where chemical disinfectants are sprayed. The use of a large amount of chemical disinfectants for outdoor spraying also affects the environment and wastes chemicals that should be used for COVID-19 containment. On the other hand, WHO and U.S. CDC also advise against spraying chemical disinfectants on humans in any circumstance as this method does not reduce the risk of infection and might be harmful to human health.

To ensure efficient, safe and economical disinfection for COVID-19 prevention and control, the Ministry of Health (standing body of National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control) requests provincial People's Committees to direct the following tasks:

1. Do not spray germicidal chemicals or preparations for SARS-CoV-2 elimination in outdoor areas.

2. Do not spray germicidal chemicals or preparations on humans in any circumstance, including the use of spraying machines and disinfectant spraying booths.

3. Disinfectants may be sprayed in small areas for decontamination of areas with COVID-19 patients in the community according to the guidelines in Official Dispatch No. 1560/BYT-MT dated 25/03/2020 by the Ministry of Health.

4. When using household and medical germicidal chemicals and preparations with unexpired marketing authorizations, which are granted by the Ministry of Health (Health Environment Management Agency), follow instructions for use on their labels. List of preparations granted marketing authorization is published on the website http://vihema. gov. vn..

With sincere thanks./.

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