DECISION

PROMULGATING INTERIM GUIDELINES ON HEALTH QUARANTINE FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL APPLICABLE TO FREIGHT VEHICLES AND OPERATORS THEREOF AT LAND, RAILWAY, WATER AND AIR CHECKPOINTS

MINISTER OF HEALTH

Pursuant to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases dated November 21, 2007;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 89/2018/ND-CP dated June 25, 2018 providing guidelines for implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease regarding the border health quarantine;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No.75/2017/ND-CP dated June 20, 2017 on functions, duties, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;  

According to the COVID-19 situation and the Prime Minister’s directions on resolution of difficulties in export, import and cross-border freight transport;

At the request of the General Director of General Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health,

HEREBY DECIDES:

Article 1. Promulgated together with this Decision are the interim guidelines on health quarantine for COVID-19 prevention and control applicable to freight vehicles and operators thereof at land, railway, water and air checkpoints.

Article 2. The guidelines promulgated together with this Decision take effect from the date on which the Decision is signed and supersede the guidelines promulgated together with Official Dispatch No. 829/BYT-MT dated 21/2/2020 by the Ministry of Health on guidelines for border health quarantine for COVID-19 prevention and control applicable to freight vehicles and operators thereof.

Article 3. Head of Office of the Ministry of Health; Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Health; heads of affiliates of the Ministry of Health; heads of Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology; heads of Pasteur Institutes; directors of hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health; Directors of Departments of Health; heads of health units of other ministries; and heads of relevant units shall implement this Decision./.

INTERIM GUIDELINES

HEALTH QUARANTINE FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL APPLICABLE TO FREIGHT VEHICLES AND OPERATORS THEREOF AT LAND, RAILWAY, WATER AND AIR CHECKPOINTS

(Promulgated together with Decision No. 2553/QD-BYT dated June 18, 2020 by Minister of Health)

I. Scope

1. Prevent and control COVID-19 via health quarantine of freight vehicles and operators thereof at land, railway, water and air checkpoints.

2. Protect workers at checkpoints from COVID-19.

II. Regulated entities

1. Freight vehicle operators, service staff, transport participants and freight vehicles travelling from or through any country or territory infected with COVID-19, namely:

- Drivers, goods owners, vehicle owners, persons loading and unloading goods, delivery persons travelling with vehicles and freight automobiles.

- Railway workers serving the operation of international freight trains through checkpoints.

- Watercraft crew members, persons travelling with watercrafts (excluding passengers) and freight watercrafts.

- Flight crews and freight aircrafts.

(hereinafter referred to as “vehicle operators” and “freight vehicles”).

2. Officials and workforces at checkpoints, including customs staff, goods inspectors, border guards; aviation security forces, technicians, ground staff; maritime administration staff, maritime pilots, ship agents or persons authorized to carry out procedures; border health quarantine staff, animal quarantine staff, plant quarantine staff; healthcare workers at checkpoints; road transport hubs; goods loaders at ports; ship supply and service providers at ports; workers in lodgings and other relevant individuals.

III. Vehicle operators and freight vehicles travelling to countries and territories infected with COVID-19

1. For vehicle operators:

1.1. Before driving their vehicles to countries and territories infected with COVID-19: self-monitor their health conditions; if they have fever or cough, breathing difficulty or fatigue, they should stay home, monitor their health, inform their managers (if any) and visit health authority for medical examination, advice and treatment. Take all personal hygiene measures recommended by the Ministry of Health (frequently wash hands with soap for at least 30 seconds or use hand sanitizer containing more than 60% alcohol, maintain cough and sneezing hygiene, etc.) and have a healthy diet.

1.2. When driving their vehicles to countries and territories infected with COVID-19 and returning to Vietnam

- They may take the goods to only delivery areas in railway and land checkpoints, airports and seaports. Do not travel further inland. Avoid leaving their vehicles while waiting for the goods to be delivered or unloaded. Increase use of remote communications equipment to limit direct contact.

- Wear protective suit, face mask, goggles, headwear, gloves and shoe covers properly when arriving at the checkpoint or seaport or before leaving the aircraft (for aircraft pilots). When travelling back to Vietnam or before entering the aircraft (for aircraft pilots) for the flight back to Vietnam, remove and discard protective suit, face mask, goggles, headwear and gloves in the lodging area of the checkpoint or port and comply with health quarantine requirements.

- Self-monitor their body temperature and health condition on a daily basis; if developing fever or cough, breathing difficulty or fatigue, inform their managers and health authority for timely handling.

- Take all personal hygiene measures recommended by the Ministry of Health (frequently wash hands with soap for at least 30 seconds or use hand sanitizer containing more than 60% alcohol, maintain cough and sneezing hygiene, etc.), ensure food safety, use a separate cup, and discard face masks and tissues into garbage bags. Close and dispose of the bags at designated locations and wash hands.

- When leaving their vehicles: avoid going to crowded places; maintain a safe distance of 1,5-2m when meeting other people.

- Operators of road vehicles, watercrafts and railway vehicles who properly comply with all abovementioned regulations will not be placed under quarantine upon their return and must monitor their health for 14 days and promptly notify their managers and local health authority if developing fever or cough or breathing difficulty.

- Aircraft pilots returning to Vietnam shall undergo quarantine in a quarantine facility designated by the provincial People’s Committee after leaving the checkpoint; and be tested for COVID-19 immediately after they arrive at the quarantine facility. If they stay in Vietnam for more than 5 days, they shall be tested for COVID-19 a second time (if testing negative in the first time). Any person testing positive for COVID-19 shall be handled according to regulations.

Aircraft pilots will be permitted to operate the next flight if they are tested for COVID-19 no earlier than 5 days before the provisional departure date.

2. Freight vehicles must be disinfected at checkpoints for both inbound and outbound trips according to regulations.

IV. Vehicle operators and freight vehicles travelling from or through countries and territories infected with COVID-19

1. For vehicle operators:

- They may take the goods to and operate in only delivery areas in land and railway checkpoints, airports and seaports. Do not travel further inland.

- While they are at land or railway checkpoints, airports and seaports, avoid getting out of their vehicles. If getting out, they must wear a face mask and disinfect their hands according to regulations.

- After getting out of their vehicles, they must visit the lodging area of the land or railway checkpoint, airport or seaport to undergo health quarantine according to regulations.

- International health quarantine authority shall check the health condition of vehicle operators before other procedures according to regulations.

- Discard protective suits, goggles, headwear, face masks and shoe covers in biohazard bags in the lodgings. These bags shall be placed in containers with lids and labeled according to regulations on biohazard waste.

- Maintain personal hygiene, regularly wash hands with soap, wear face masks and properly comply with regulations while staying in their vehicles or lodgings of land or railway checkpoints, seaports and airports.

- Any vehicle operator having fever or cough, breathing difficulty or fatigue during the trip or found to have any of these symptoms during health quarantine shall undergo medical quarantine according to regulations.

- Operators of vehicles capable of accommodating them may stay on their vehicles and are not required to stay in lodgings.

- While watercrafts are anchored or having goods loaded onto:

+ Foreign crew members and persons travelling with watercrafts may not go on land;

+ For Vietnamese crew members to be replaced, crew members whose labor contracts have expired and crew members wishing to return home or travel to another checkpoint, the steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control of the province where the water checkpoint in which the watercraft is anchored is located shall consider and decide to provide a suitable quarantine area.  Crew members getting on land must undergo health quarantine and centralized quarantine for 14 days (starting from the date on which they leave their watercrafts) and be tested according to regulations.

- Crew members needing emergency aid shall be handled in compliance with requirements of international health quarantine authority and local health authority.

- Pilots of aircrafts landing in Vietnam shall undergo quarantine in a quarantine facility designated by the provincial People’s Committee after entering Vietnam and leaving the checkpoint; and be tested for COVID-19 immediately after they arrive at the quarantine facility. If they stay in Vietnam for more than 5 days, they shall be tested for COVID-19 a second time (if testing negative in the first time). Any person testing positive for COVID-19 shall be handled according to regulations.

Aircraft pilots in Vietnam will be permitted to operate the next flight if they are tested for COVID-19 no earlier than 5 days before the provisional departure date.

2. For freight vehicles:

- Be provided with a separate parking and unloading area near lodgings (if possible) and as appropriate to the actual situation at the checkpoint and operations of health quarantine authority.

- Freight vehicles and goods thereof must be disinfected upon their arrival at Vietnamese checkpoints according to regulations. For watercrafts, only areas having direct contact with their operators are required to be disinfected. For watercrafts visiting a checkpoint for regular maintenance or repair, they shall be fully disinfected before maintenance or repair workers begin their work.

- Vehicles transporting vehicle operators from the parking areas of their vehicles to lodgings must be disinfected. Door handles, seats, windows, floor and air conditions of these vehicles and contaminated areas shall be cleaned and disinfected after each trip.

V. Protection from COVID-19 for workers at checkpoints

1. Before work

- Self-monitor their health; if having fever or cough, breathing difficulty or fatigue, they should stay home, monitor their health and inform their managers. If necessary, they should visit a healthcare facility for examination, advice and treatment;

- Prepare all equipment necessary for working time such as clean drinking water and cup for personal use; tissue papers, face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer containing alcohol; clothes worn only for work, etc.

2. During work

- Persons having direct contact with vehicles operators, freight vehicles and/or goods must wear face masks and gloves properly. Use suitable gloves to reduce unnecessary contact. If not using gloves, they must wash their hands frequently with soap for at least 30 seconds or hand sanitizer; avoid putting their hands on the eyes, nose or mouth to prevent infection. Do not spit outside of designated places.

- Use personal protective equipment (including face masks, goggles, headwear and gloves) when coming into contact with suspected cases.

- Proactively take personal protective measures such as covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, preferably with a towel or handkerchief, or with a shirt sleeve to prevent respiratory fluids from spreading. Properly discard tissues used to wipe the nose or mouth into waste containers, wash hands with soap, eat fully cooked food, drink boiled water and have a healthy diet;

- If developing fever, cough or breathing difficulty during work, inform their managers and border health quarantine authority at the checkpoint, port or transport hub for handling according to regulations.

3. Upon end of working shift

Discard disposable face masks into waste containers with lids or wash reusable face masks with soap and dry them.

Do not wear work clothes back home; put used clothes in tightly closed bags and wash them after each shift.

VI. Requirements for lodgings

1. Arrange for vehicle operators’ stay in lodgings, preferably one person per room; in case where the operators have to stay together, their beds/ resting spots must be at least 01m apart.

2. Location: lodgings shall be located on the premises of ports, checkpoints or transport hubs or in areas designated by the provincial steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control (near ports, checkpoints or transport hubs). Local governments shall supervise and manage lodgings and preserve the safety and security thereof.

3. Form: lodgings may be arranged in a fixed or mobile manner as appropriate to the actual situation at ports, checkpoints and transport hubs.

4. Guidelines on regulations for vehicle operators staying in lodgings

- Vehicle operators shall be provided with instructions on how to protect themselves and other people from COVID-19, including instructions on how to self-check body temperature at least twice a day (morning and afternoon), self-monitor their health conditions, take person hygiene measures, wear face masks, frequently wash hands with soap for at least 30 seconds or hand sanitizer if there is no soap. Vehicle operators shall inform healthcare workers immediately if developing a suspicious symptom such as fever, cough or breathing difficulty.

- Vehicle operators staying in lodgings shall discard used face masks, towels and tissues used to wipe the nose or mouth into biohazard waste containers that have lids and are lined with biohazard garbage bags. Other domestic wastes shall be discarded in common waste containers.

- Do not leave their lodgings during their stay. Avoid having direct contact with other people in their lodgings. Lodging management units shall have plans to ensure that vehicle operators comply with regulations of their lodgings.

- Vehicle operators shall be provided with daily meals meeting food safety requirements and facilities essential for daily living. They may not eat or drink in groups in their lodgings.

5. Regulations for healthcare officials and workers in lodgings

Monitor and report health condition and body temperature of vehicle operators at least twice a day (morning and afternoon) to health quarantine authority at ports, checkpoints and transport hubs or local preventive medicine authority.

6. Infection prevention in lodgings

- Lodgings must ensure infection prevention in their facilities by cleaning, proper ventilation and limiting use of air conditioners. Clean the floor, door knobs and surfaces of objects in rooms and lodgings using soap or common cleaning agents or disinfectant solutions on a daily basis.

- Provide vehicle operators with face masks and instructions for use of face masks.

- Restrooms must have hand washing stations with soap or hand sanitizer.

- Used face masks, towels and tissues used to clean the nose or mouth from vehicle operators in lodgings must be collected, transported and treated as biohazard waste as follows: the face masks, towels and tissues shall be discarded into a biohazard waste container that has a lid and is lined with a biohazard bag; this bag shall then be tied, placed inside another biohazard bag and collected into a biohazard waste container.

- Biohazard waste containers must be made of a sturdy material, have tightly fit lids and wheels and be moved to the temporary waste storage area at least twice a day.

- Biohazard waste must be transported and treated within the day. Biohazard waste containers must be disinfected with a disinfectant solution containing 0,05% active chlorine immediately after use.

- Other domestic wastes shall be collected, transported and treated as common waste.

- Vehicles transporting confirmed or suspected cases shall be disinfected according to regulations.

- Personal items such as clothes, blankets, mosquito nets and eating utensils shall be washed or cleaned with soap or common cleaning agents.

- Unauthorized persons may not enter lodgings.

7. Handling upon detection of suspected cases in lodgings

- Upon detection of a suspected case, the lodging manager shall immediately notify health quarantine authority at the port, checkpoint or transport hub for timely guidance or local preventive medicine authority.

- Move all roommates of the suspected case to another area.

- Health quarantine authority at the port, checkpoint or transport hub shall handle and disinfect the area where the suspected case stays according to regulations.

VII. Disinfection of imports and freight vehicles

1. Import disinfection

- Ensure that goods packaging is properly closed and leak-proof and goods quality will not be affected by disinfection. Disinfect all cargo surfaces using a disinfectant solution containing 0,05% active chlorine or similar germicidal preparations granted marketing authorization by the Ministry of Health.

- Animals, plants and food that cannot be disinfected using household and medical germicidal chemicals or preparations shall abide by regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Industry and Trade.

2. Freight vehicle disinfection

2.1. Aircrafts shall be disinfected according to guidelines from the World Health Organization and regulations from airlines or International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

2.2. Immediately after goods are unloaded, disinfect all surfaces of road vehicles, railway vehicles and watercrafts that come into contact with people using a disinfectant solution containing 0,1% active chlorine or other similar germicidal preparations granted marketing authorization by the Ministry of Health.

VIII. Implementation

1. Ministry of Transport shall:

- Cooperate with the provincial People's Committee in designating quarantine facilities; and reviewing test results of flight crews before granting flight permission.

- Cooperate with relevant regulatory bodies in providing guidelines on health quarantine for COVID-19 prevention and control applicable to freight vehicles and operators thereof at land, railway, water and air checkpoints in compliance with the guidelines herein.

2. Provincial People’s Committees shall:

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Transport in designating quarantine facilities and issuing flight crew quarantine decisions as per regulations.

- Direct Departments of Health to carry out health quarantine procedures; medical quarantine and health monitoring for quarantined persons; and testing for flight crew members according to guidelines. Upon detection of a suspected or confirmed case, identify and eliminate the outbreak as per regulations.

- Based on directions from the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and guiding documents of the Ministry of Health, provincial People's Committees shall direct relevant units in their provinces to implement the guidelines herein at checkpoints in their provinces; inspect, supervise and report on such implementation to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control (via the Ministry of Health - the standing body) to adopt response plans promptly.

3. International health quarantine authority at checkpoints shall:

- Ensure workforce and equipment for health quarantine at checkpoints according to regulations.

- Cooperate with relevant regulatory bodies and units at checkpoints in formulating detailed guidelines on health quarantine for COVID-19 prevention and control at checkpoints as appropriate to the actual situation in areas under their management.

- Cooperate with relevant units in providing guidance on use of protective equipment for relevant regulatory bodies, units, organizations and individuals at checkpoints to ensure efficient COVID-19 prevention and control.

4. Management units of and enterprises operating at land and railway checkpoints, airports and seaports shall:

- Organize and cooperate with relevant units in lodging establishment and infection prevention in lodgings.

- Propagate guidelines.

5. Management body of each force at checkpoints shall:

Ensure safe working conditions and protection from COVID-19 for workers under their management at checkpoints.

- Provide hand washing stations with water and soap or hand sanitizing products containing alcohol;

- Provide workers with face masks, gloves and personal protective equipment;

- Maintain hygiene, regularly clean the floor and disinfect surfaces of objects in workplaces such as door knobs, elevator buttons, shared phones, computer keyboards, tables, etc. using soap or common cleaning agents or disinfectant solutions.

- Ensure proper ventilation and increase natural ventilation at workplaces;

- Provide workers with regulations and instructions on self-protection and proper compliance with the Ministry of Health’s recommendations when developing a suspicious symptom or having contact with a suspected case;

- Upon detection of an official or worker suspected to have contracted the disease, notify health authority and international health quarantine authority at the port, checkpoint or transport hub for guidance and handling as per regulations.

During implementation of these guidelines, any difficulty arising should be reported to the Ministry of Health (General Department of Preventive Medicine) for research and resolution./.

---------------

This document is handled by Vinas Doc. Document reference purposes only. Any comments, please send to email: [email protected]