Official Dispatch No. 1909/BYT-DP dated April 15, 2022 on Changes in case definition of COVID-19 and medical measures for COVID-19 cases and close contacts

To:

- Directors of Provincial Departments of Health;
- Heads of units affiliated to the Ministry of Health.

Currently, the high rate of COVID-19 vaccination coverage is achieved nationwide, the rate of COVID-19 serious cases and deaths is considerably declining, and the majority of people with SARS-CoV-2 show no symptoms or mild symptoms only.  The COVID-19 pandemic has been brought under control nationwide. For the purposes of the guideline on safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Government’s Resolution No. 38/NQ-CP dated March 17, 2022 promulgating the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control program which is aimed to combine the socio-economic development and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health hereby request Directors of Provincial Departments of Health and heads of units affiliated to the Ministry of Health to strictly implement the following guidelines on changes in case definition of COVID-19 and medical measures for COVID-19 cases and close contacts. To be specific:

1. Case definition of COVID-19

1.1. Surveillance case (suspected case) is one of the following cases:

a) A person who meets epidemiological criteria and has the following signs or symptoms:

- Fever and cough; or

- At least 3 of the following symptoms: fever, cough, body aches, fatigue, chills, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell or a reduction in these senses, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing.

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c) A person who suffers from severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) or severe viral pneumonia (SVP) and requires hospitalization.

A person meeting epidemiological criteria means a person who has close contact with a confirmed case or who is present on the same means of transport or at the same place, event, workplace, class, etc. with a confirmed case during the transmission period.

1.2. Confirmed case is one of the following cases:

a) A person who has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by Real-time RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method.

b) A person who show the clinical symptoms (specified in Points a, c of Section 1.1) and has a positive SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT.

c) A person who meets epidemiological criteria and has a positive SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT.

1.3. Close contact is one of the following cases:

- A person who has direct physical contact such as shaking hands, hugging, kissing, direct skin-to-skin contact or body contact, etc. with a confirmed case during the transmission period of this confirmed case.

- A person who still wore a face mask while having contact or communicating within 1 meter, or in a narrow and closed space, with a confirmed case during the transmission period of this confirmed case for at least 15 minutes.

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- A person providing health care, examination and treatment directly for a confirmed case during the transmission period of this confirmed case without using adequate personal protective equipment as prescribed.

The transmission period of a confirmed case:

- For a symptomatic case: 2 days before the onset of symptoms and 10 days afterward, plus at least 3 additional days without symptoms (including without fever and respiratory symptoms).

- For an asymptomatic case: 2 days before positive test for SARS-CoV-2 and 10 days afterward.

2. Medical measures for surveillance cases, confirmed cases and close contacts

2.1. For surveillance cases and confirmed cases

Measures for infection prevention, isolation, testing, treatment and health care shall be adopted according to the Ministry of Health’s regulations.

2.2. For close contacts

Within 10 days after the last close contact with a confirmed case during the transmission period of this confirmed case, a close contact is required to strictly comply with the following guidelines:

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- Monitor health (parents/guardians/teachers shall take charge of monitoring health conditions of close contacts who are children or pupils). The onset of symptoms (fever and cough; or at least 3 of the following symptoms: fever, cough, body aches, fatigue, chills, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell or a reduction in these senses, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing) should be immediately reported to health facilities for getting advice, test, diagnosis, treatment and health care as prescribed.

- The close contact is required to inform local health facility immediately when getting a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 so as to get advice, health care and treatment, and implement infection prevention measures as prescribed.

This Official Dispatch supersedes the Official Dispatch No. 11042/BYT-DP dated December 29, 2021 of the Ministry of Health prescribing changes in case definition of COVID-19 and the Official Dispatch No. 762/BYT-DP dated February 21, 2022 of the Ministry of Health prescribing isolation of COVID-19 cases and close contacts.

Upon receipt of this Official Dispatch, Directors of Provincial Departments of Health, heads of units affiliated to the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies are requested to promptly implement the guidelines herein./.

PP. MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER




Nguyen Truong Son