DECISION

PROMULGATING GUIDELINES ON PLANS FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN CASE OF COVID-19 CASES IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS AND INDUSTRIAL PARKS

MINISTER OF HEALTH

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

Pursuant to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment dated November 23, 2009;

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;

Pursuant to Decision No. 2194/QD-BCĐQG dated 27/5/2020 on guidelines for COVID-19 prevention and infection risk assessment in workplaces and worker dormitories;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Official Telegram No. 680/CD-TTg dated 24/5/2021 on COVID-19 safety in industrial parks;

At the request of the General Director of Health Environment Management Agency, Ministry of Health,

HEREBY DECIDES:

Article 1. Promulgated together with this Decision are the guidelines on plans for COVID-19 prevention and control in case of COVID-19 cases in business establishments and industrial parks.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from the date on which it is signed.

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 affiliated to the Ministry of Health; Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities, heads of steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control of provinces and central-affiliated cities; Directors of Departments of Health; heads of health units of other ministries; and heads of relevant units shall implement this Decision./.

GUIDELINES

PLANS FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN CASE OF COVID-19 CASES IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS AND INDUSTRIAL PARKS

(According to Decision No. 2787/QD-BYT dated 05/6/2021 by Minister of Health)

These guidelines are formulated based on instructional documents  of National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control (hereinafter referred to as “National Steering Committee”), Ministry of Health, relevant ministries, World Health Organization and International Labour Organization and COVID-19 prevention and control guidelines and plans previously and currently implemented in provinces and central-affiliated cities.

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Objectives

- Proactively detect and promptly handle suspected COVID-19 cases in business establishments and industrial parks/clusters (hereinafter referred to as “industrial parks”).

- Ensure safe business operations and achievement of the dual targets; mitigate the pandemic’s impact on economic development and social security.

2. Requirements

- Heads of Communist Party Committees and local governments shall directly give directions and take responsibility for COVID-19 prevention and control in areas under their management.

- Local governments and units shall "proactively attack", follow the rules of "active prevention, early detection, fast quarantine, effective treatment, complete elimination and quick situation stabilization” and be ready for worse situations at all times.

- Regard COVID-19 prevention and control as prioritized, urgent and regular tasks. Business establishments, industrial parks and workers shall properly comply with directions of the Secretariat, Government, Prime Minister and National Steering Committee as well as guidelines from the Ministry of Health and ministries in COVID-19 prevention and control.

- Adopt COVID-19 prevention and control solutions in a synchronized, vigorous and efficient manner, switch from defense to attack, regard prevention as basic, strategic, long-term and decisive; and hold leaders responsible for COVID-19 prevention and control.

- Proactively make logistics preparation and meet requirements concerning quarantine, testing capacity and treatment with the motto of “four on-sites” to ensure timely, urgent and efficient response.

II. MEASURES FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS AND INDUSTRIAL PARKS

Business establishments and industrial parks shall implement Decision No. 2194/QD-BCĐQG dated 27/5/2020 on guidelines for COVID-19 prevention and infection risk assessment in workplaces and worker dormitories, focusing on the following tasks:

1. For business establishments and industrial parks:

- Establish steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control and COVID-19 safety teams in industrial parks and business establishments (see Appendix 1);

- Formulate plans for COVID-19 prevention and control in case of COVID-19 cases at the workplace; regularly organize drills for COVID-19 prevention and control plans and formulate vaccination plans for workers; commit to complying with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations with the local government; self-assess and update infection risk on the COVID-19 safety map.

- Provide worker transportation in accordance with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations; increase ventilation in factories and cafeterias; have fixed assignment of workers to factories, production lines and transport vehicles; reduce worker density in each shift and meal break; decrease contact by installing dividers in cafeterias and providing individual meals; organize online meetings and allow working from home (for administrative units, accounting unit, etc.); install cameras to monitor at-risk areas; draw up and send worker lists to industrial park management board and relevant health authorities; request workers to comply with 5K requirements and record their daily contacts.

- Manage workers; health declaration is compulsory for those having traveled from infected areas or participated in high-risk mass events; screen workers for COVID-19.

2. Ensure COVID-19 prevention and control in rented accommodations and dormitories of workers (hereinafter referred to as “rented accommodations”): Chairpersons of district-level People's Committees shall strictly manage all rented accommodations in their districts according to the guidelines in Appendix 2; establish management boards or COVID-19 safety teams for rented accommodations; assign workers in the same factory to the same dormitory room; request workers to sign a commitment and comply with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations.

3. For entities providing services (meals, food, raw materials, worker and expert transport, banking, power, waste collection and treatment, logistics, repair, maintenance, water supply and drainage, security services, etc.) for business establishments and industrial parks: they shall sign a commitment to COVID-19 prevention and control with management boards of business establishments and industrial parks and local governments; cooperate with business establishments and industrial parks in managing worker lists and work schedule and travel plan of workers; regularly have all workers take rapid antigen tests; request workers to comply with 5K requirements and record their daily contacts.

4. Raise awareness with simple and understandable information; expedite COVID-19 prevention and control in business establishments and industrial parks.

5. Establish local interdisciplinary working groups to inspect and supervise compliance with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations in business establishments and industrial parks, especially those that are large or at high risk; strictly handle those committing violations against COVID-19 regulations, including operation suspension.

III. PLANS IMPLEMENTED IN CASE OF COVID-19 CASES

3.1. COVID-19 case in one business establishment or industrial park

3.1.1. COVID-19 prevention and control measures to be implemented immediately

- Immediately adopt approved plans for prevention and control upon detection of a COVID-19 case.

- Temporarily quarantine a part of the business establishment or industrial park or factory/ production line/ production team/ production area/ work station where each confirmed case (F0) works according to actual situation.

- Isolate F0 cases in the business establishment or industrial park and immediately notify health authority to have them transported to treatment facilities and carry out hotspot identification and disinfection as per regulations.

- Inform all workers present in the business establishment or industrial park; request them to properly make health declaration, comply with 5K requirements and stay in their factories; do not let workers feel confused or anxious.

- Check all workers in the business establishment or industrial park according to worker lists; urgently trace all first-hand contacts (F1) and second-hand contacts (F2); do not miss any F1 or F2; place all F1 cases under centralized quarantine and place all F2 cases under quarantine in their houses and lodgings. Before quarantining F1 cases, divide them into groups based on the location of their work stations and contact risk to quarantine them together with those who have the same work location and contact risk.

- Draw up and send lists of F1 and F2 cases and those not present in the business establishment or industrial park at the time of quarantine to Departments of Health/ district-level healthcare centers of the localities where these people are living for handling as per regulations and, concurrently, cooperate with health authority in asking these people to stay in their houses/ lodgings, make health declaration and take measures against COVID-19 at the request of health authority;

- Cooperate with Department of Health and provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in testing workers according to risk levels.

- Evaluate epidemiological relations between other factories/ production lines/ production teams/ production areas/ work stations and areas where F0 cases work:

 (1) If there is an epidemiological relation with the area where an F0 case works and risk of the disease spreading to the whole business establishment or industrial park, follow the guidelines for Situation 1, Section 3.1.2, Part III of these Guidelines.

 (2) If there is only an epidemiological relation with the area where an F0 case works, cooperate with local government in placing all workers of these factories under home quarantine as per regulations; and testing these workers to identify hotspots.

 (3) If there is no epidemiological relation with the area where an F0 case works, continue to find F1 cases carefully. Any F1 detected shall be separated and placed under centralized quarantine immediately.

3.1.2. Plans for handling following situations after test results are available

a. Situation 1: multiple confirmed cases are detected in almost all factories/ production lines/ production teams/ production areas/ work stations.

- Isolate F0 cases in the business establishment or industrial park and immediately notify health authority to have them transported to treatment facilities and carry out hotspot identification and disinfection as per regulations.

- Urgently trace all F1 and F2 cases of new F0 cases to place them under quarantine as per regulations. All workers in the business establishment or industrial park shall be regarded as F1 and immediately placed under quarantine.

- Temporarily quarantine the whole business establishment or industrial park.

- Immediately notify local government and steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control at all levels; urgently trace all relevant cases and notify relevant authorities and nearby business establishments and industrial parks; formulate a plan for large-scale worker quarantine in the business establishment or industrial park.

b. Situation 2: multiple confirmed cases are detected in one factory/ production line/ production team/ production area/ work station.

- Isolate F0 cases in the business establishment or industrial park and immediately notify health authority to have them transported to treatment facilities and carry out hotspot identification and disinfection as per regulations.

- Urgently trace all F1 and F2 cases of new F0 cases to place them under quarantine as per regulations. All workers in the factories/ production lines/ production areas/ work stations where F0 cases work shall be regarded as F1 and immediately placed under quarantine.

- Request all workers to make health declaration with local government and health authority of the localities where they live for cooperation in monitoring and management.

c. Situation 3: no new case is detected; all the other workers in the business establishment or industrial park test negative.

Check all workers in the business establishment or industrial park according to worker lists to manage them and regularly have them take screening tests to promptly detect suspected cases.

3.2. COVID-19 cases in multiple business establishments and/or industrial parks

- Business establishments and/or industrial parks having confirmed cases shall take measures against COVID-19 according to the guidelines in Section 3.1 Part III herein.

- Each business establishment and industrial park shall regularly assess risk of COVID-19 infection in accordance with the guidelines in Decision No. 2194/QD-BCĐQG dated 27/5/2020.

Based on risk assessment results and actual situation in the business establishments and/or industrial parks, Chairperson of the provincial People’s Committee shall decide whether the business establishments and/or industrial parks may continue to operate to ensure compliance with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations and safe production.

3.3. Cleaning and disinfection in business establishments and industrial parks having confirmed cases

Carry out cleaning and disinfection according to the guidelines in Official Dispatch No. 1560/BYT-MT dated 25/03/2020 by Ministry of Health.

IV. WORKER TESTING PLANS

4.1. When there is no COVID-19 case

Perform rapid antigen testing or RT-PCR testing using the pool testing method to screen for COVID-19 at least once every 05-07 days for: all workers involved in provision of services that have contact with workers in business establishments and at least 20% of workers of business establishments at high risk (especially production team leaders, factory supervisors, company leaders, shippers, etc.). Those testing positive shall be quarantined and undergo individual RT-PCR testing for confirmation.

4.2. COVID-19 case in one business establishment or industrial park

- F1 cases working in the factories/ production teams/ work stations where F0 cases work shall undergo individual RT-PCR testing.

- Those working in the business establishment or industrial park but in different factories/ production teams/ work stations and regarded as F1 cases shall undergo rapid antigen testing.

+ Those testing positive shall undergo individual RT-PCR testing.

+ Those testing negative shall undergo pooled RT-PCR testing by pooling samples from workers in the same factories/ production teams/ work stations/ rented rooms/ accommodations/ etc.

- Remaining workers shall undergo rapid antigen testing; anyone testing positive shall undergo individual RT-PCR testing.

4.3. COVID-19 cases in multiple business establishments and/or industrial parks

4.3.1. Business establishments and/or industrial parks having confirmed cases: carry out screening according to the guidelines in Section 4.2 herein.

4.3.2. Business establishments and industrial parks without confirmed cases: all workers (if capable) or at least 50% of workers shall undergo rapid antigen testing or RT-PCR testing using the pool testing method. Prioritize testing of workers at high risk.

V. MEDICAL QUARANTINE PLANS

5.1. General rules

- Prioritize quarantine in business establishments and industrial parks, avoid transporting workers to uninfected areas unless the business establishment or industrial park does not have a centralized quarantine area.

- Quarantine F1 cases according to risk groups; place those working in the same factory/ production lines/ production area/ work station in the same quarantine area; regularly test F1 cases for timely handling.

- In case the number of F1 cases exceeds the capacity of local centralized quarantine areas, consider imposing quarantine upon areas or locations with high number of F1 cases such as rented accommodations and ensure strict management and monitoring of such quarantine.

5.2. Centralized quarantine of areas where high number of F1 cases live

- Follow the guidelines in Decision No. 3986/QD-BYT dated 16/9/2020 by the Ministry of Health on a “Handbook for quarantine practices in areas with reported confirmed COVID-19”.

- In case a large number of workers live in a rented accommodation and COVID-19 cases are detected continuously, check and transfer 50% of workers who are not F1 cases to other centralized quarantine areas. Clean and disinfect after arranging workers to stay sufficiently apart (or provide workers with disinfection instructions) according to the guidelines in Official Dispatch No. 1560/BYT-MT dated 25/3/2020 by the Ministry of Health.

- Perform screening tests for SARS-CoV-2 every 03-05 days for F1 cases.

- Each house, rented accommodation and lodging of workers in the quarantined area shall be placed under quarantine in compliance with Decision No. 879/QD-BYT dated 12/3/2020 by Ministry of Health and the following requirements:

+ Quarantine duration: full 28 days

+ Healthcare workers/ COVID-19 community teams shall check body temperature and health condition of quarantined persons at least twice a day (morning and afternoon). If there are not enough workers for this task, provide each quarantined person/ quarantine room with a thermometer so that quarantined persons could check their own temperature and report to healthcare workers (unless they develop suspicious symptoms); provide instructions and remind them to make health declaration on a daily basis.

+ Commune-level health authority, police, neighborhood/ village heads or COVID-19 community teams shall manage health declaration; supervise compliance of quarantined persons and promptly handle violations.

+ Quarantined persons and quarantine supervisors shall undergo SARS-CoV-2 testing at least 04 times (first day, 14th day, 20th day and 28th day).

VI. WORKER TRANSPORT PLANS

6.1. When there is no COVID-19 case

6.1.1. Transport vehicles

- Register detailed schedule and ensure that the vehicles do not exceed the seating capacity stated in their licenses; windows and ventilation windows are opened if possible during the trip; hand sanitizer (licensed with the Ministry of Health) is provided; checkpoint QR codes are affixed onto the door; waste containers and surveillance cameras are equipped on the vehicles.

- Draw up passenger list or manage using cards and have fixed seating arrangement.

6.1.2. Business establishments shall draw up a fixed passenger list for each vehicle and notify Departments of Health of the provinces where workers live for cooperation in supervision.

6.1.3. Drivers and driver assistants

- Regularly sanitize their hands, wear face masks throughout the trip; only carry workers whose names are included in the passenger list following the authorized fixed route; do not stop on the way; clean and disinfect the vehicles at the end of each day.

- Request workers to swipe their cards or scan QR code at the vehicle’s door, sanitize their hands before entering the vehicle and wear face masks throughout the trip.

6.1.4. For passengers: always comply with 5K requirements; swipe their cards or scan QR code at the vehicle's door, sanitize their hands before entering the vehicle and sit in the assigned seat.

6.1.5. For private vehicle and public transit users: comply with 5K requirements, use the Bluezone application, and record their travel plan. For public transit, take note of the vehicle’s information and do not use public transit if having fever, cough, throat pain or breathing difficulty.

6.2. COVID-19 cases in a community where a business establishment and/or industrial park is located

- Follow the guidelines in Section 6.1 Part VI herein; drivers and driver assistants must check body temperature of passengers before they enter the vehicles; notify the business establishment and/or industrial park and local health authority when a passenger has fever, cough or breathing difficulty.

- The business establishment and/or industrial park should provide worker transport and workers should use private vehicles to avoid using public transit.

6.3. COVID-19 cases in business establishments and/or industrial parks

Provide centralized accommodation for workers in each business establishment and industrial park.

6.3.1. Transport of workers from their places of residence to centralized accommodation

a. Transport method: follow the guidelines in Section 6.1 Part VI herein; each vehicle shall operate at 50% of the capacity stated in its license and its seats shall be marked to ensure safe distancing.

b. Business establishments and industrial parks

- Provide the industrial park management board with list of and information on workers to be transported to confirm that these workers are eligible for work; only transport those confirmed to be eligible for work.

- Based on the number of workers to be transported, the business establishment shall formulate and send a transport plan to Department of Transport and industrial park management board for monitoring and management.

c. Drivers and driver assistants: follow the guidelines in Point c Section 6.1 Part VI herein; check body temperature of workers before they enter the vehicles; request workers to sit in their assigned seats.

d. Passengers: follow the guidelines in Point d Section 6.1 Part VI herein.

6.3.2. Transport of workers from centralized accommodations to workplaces

a. Transport vehicles: follow the guidelines in Point a Section 6.3.1 of these Guidelines and affix each passenger's name to their seat according to the passenger list to ensure distancing.

b. Business establishments: provide worker transport plans; assign persons working in the same factory/ office/ shift to the same vehicle; it is recommended to assign workers staying in the same area to the same shift.

c. Drivers and driver assistants: follow the guidelines in Point c Section 6.3.1 Part VI herein; make health declaration before starting the trip; stay in the same centralized accommodation area as workers; always comply with 5K requirements.

d. Passengers: follow the guidelines in Point d Section 6.3.1 Part VI herein.

VII. CENTRALIZED WORKER ACCOMMODATION PLANS

7.1. Centralized accommodation forms

- Centralized accommodations (centralized rented accommodations, dormitories; hotels, repurposed school buildings, arenas, vocational schools, etc.);

- Temporary accommodations in business establishments and industrial parks.

7.2. Centralized accommodations

Each centralized accommodation shall house workers of one business establishment or industrial park. Requirements for centralized accommodations:

- Control all entries and exits; be convenient for worker transport; have “KHU VỰC LƯU TRÚ TẬP TRUNG - KHÔNG PHẬN SỰ MIỄN VÀO” (“CENTRALIZED ACCOMMODATION - AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY”) signage; have health declaration points, create checkpoint QR codes at entrance; have food and essential item provision points/areas; vehicle and goods disinfection points and hand washing stations with soap/ hand sanitizer; install surveillance cameras at entries/exits and public areas in the accommodation, which shall be connected with the commune- and district-level information systems for cooperation in supervision.

- Meet requirements for rented accommodations in Section 1 Part II Appendix 2 enclosed therewith.

- Ensure environmental decontamination and disinfection and waste management according to regulations in Section V of Decision No. 2194/QD-BCDQG dated 27/5/2020.

- Establish a centralized accommodation management board to manage workers entering and leaving the accommodation area according to the approved list; inspect compliance with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations; organize assessment of COVID-19 infection risk; raise awareness of COVID-19 prevention and control; and publicly post phone number of the head of the management board and hotline number.

- Establish one or more than one COVID-19 team in each centralized accommodation, which shall consist of a representative of the local government/ neighborhood (team leader), representative of the centralized accommodation management board, representative of workers in the accommodation and representative of the business establishment or industrial park (deputy team leader).

7.3. Temporary accommodations

Follow the guidelines in Section 7.2 Part VII herein. Other requirements for temporary accommodations:

- Be separated from production areas and dangerous areas, have surrounding barriers and be divided into the following areas: disinfection area, accommodation area, kitchen, common bathrooms, clothes drying area and waste collection area.

- Workers of each business establishment and industrial park shall be assigned to a separate area to prevent cross-contamination.

VIII. COVID-19 PATIENT TREATMENT PLANS

8.1. General requirements

- Treatment of COVID-19 patients in industrial parks:

+ Establish internal isolated treatment facilities in schools, factories, office buildings, military units, etc. having confirmed cases.

+ Mobilize human and material resources (equipment, medications, materials, etc.) for treatment units. Provide technical and workforce assistance for localities with complicated situation.

- Ensure medical examination and treatment in quarantined area.

+ Establish a temporary polyclinic at the commune-level healthcare station in the quarantined area, which must be divided into 02 separate areas to prevent infection, namely an area for receipt, examination and temporary isolation of COVID-19 patients and an area for receipt, examination and emergency aid for other patients.

+ Mobilize workers from provincial hospitals and district-level hospitals to the commune-level healthcare station for 24/24 first aid, emergency aid and medical examination and treatment, including general practitioners, infectious disease doctors, obstetricians, internal medicine doctors, pediatricians and nurses.

+ Mobilize and provide addition necessary equipment: at least 02 ambulances readily available at the commune-level healthcare station (01 for suspected cases and 01 for regular patients needing transfer to higher level of care), portable X-ray machines (portable X-ray carts), ultrasound machines, patient monitors, rapid blood test kits; blood pressure monitors, electronic thermometers and medical examination equipment; use separate equipment for suspected cases and regular patients.

+ Sufficiently provide the commune-level healthcare station with basic medications for common diseases and chronic diseases, use list of drugs covered by health insurance in Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BYT dated 30/11/2018.  The district-level healthcare center shall provide sufficient drugs for the commune-level healthcare station and open the health insurance payment gateway at the commune-level healthcare station.

- Refer patients to the provincial general hospital for first aid and treatment if the patients’ conditions go beyond the treatment capacity of the commune-level healthcare station:

+ Transport the patients to the isolated treatment area of the provincial general hospital using an ambulance.

+ In the provincial general hospital, prepare a separate isolated treatment area for patients referred from the quarantined area. This isolated treatment area should have 50-100 general beds (depending on the population of the quarantined area).

+ In case it is not possible to arrange an operating room in the hospital, a separate operating room must be arranged for patients referred from the quarantined area in the surgery department. Renal replacement therapy department should also have a separate room for recipients of renal replacement therapy from the quarantined area.

- The Ministry of Health shall designate tertiary hospitals receiving COVID-19 patients.

8.2. COVID-19 patient treatment plans

8.2.1. Screening and classification of COVID-19 patients according to Decision No. 2008/QD-BYT dated 26/4/2021 by Minister of Health.

a) COVID-19 patients without clinical symptoms.

b) COVID-19 patients with symptoms.

8.2.2. COVID-19 patient treatment and medical care plans

a) COVID-19 patients without clinical symptoms

- Transfer all COVID-19 patients without symptoms and with positive RT-PCR test result to the ISOLATED MEDICAL MONITORING AREA for medical care and monitoring. While monitored, any patient developing a clinical symptom will be transferred to a separate room for medical care (the room shall have a surveillance camera, oxygen tank and some emergency aid equipment) to wait to be transferred to a COVID-19 treatment facility. COVID-19 patients with negative RT-PCR test result will be transferred to another room.

- See Appendix 3 enclosed therewith for the guidelines on establishment, management and operation of ISOLATED MEDICAL MONITORING AREA.

b) COVID-19 patients with clinical symptoms

- Transfer these patients to a COVID-19 treatment facility or establish a temporary hospital to provide care and treatment for them.

- There are 02 options for establishment of a COVID-19 treatment facility:

+ Utilize an existing hospital as a COVID-19 treatment facility: transfer all patients not infected with COVID-19 to another treatment facility; use all infrastructure of the hospital for COVID-19 patient treatment.

+ Establish a temporary hospital: use a facility with available infrastructure for water supply, bathrooms and waste water collection and treatment.

IX. PLANS FOR PRODUCTION ORGANIZATION DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAKS IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS AND INDUSTRIAL PARKS

9.1. General requirements

- Before resuming their operation, all business establishments and industrial parks must undergo assessment of fulfillment of conditions for COVID-19 safety in production and have sufficient COVID-19 prevention and control plans approved by the competent authority.

- Business establishments and industrial parks shall commit to strictly comply with regulations, conditions and plans for production organization with due consideration taken of COVID-19 prevention and control and operate at the capacity decided by the local government.

- Provincial authorities and district-level People’s Committees shall increase management, inspection and supervision of adoption of measures against COVID-19 in production by business establishments and industrial parks.

9.2. Conditions for resumption of operation of business establishments and industrial parks

9.2.1. General conditions for production

- Only workers confirmed to be safe from COVID-19 28 days before the day where they return to work by health authority and local government of the locality where they reside permanently or temporarily and testing negative for the virus twice using the RT-PCR method within 14 days before the day where they return to work (the second test shall be one day before the day where they return to work) and having no suspicious symptom may go to work.

- Worker accommodation must meet the requirements in Section VII herein. If the COVID-19 situation is complicated, local government may request workers who leave their workplaces or centralized accommodations to undergo centralized quarantine for 21 days and test negative for the virus three times using the RT-PCR method (the tests shall be 07 days apart with the last test one day before the day where they return to work) before they may return to work.

- At least 03 days before operation is resumed, business establishments and industrial parks shall transport workers to centralized accommodations or temporary accommodations and have all workers undergo rapid antigen testing.

- Establish centralized quarantine areas for workers where necessary.

- Manage workers in groups of less than 30 people working in the same team or factory from the workplace to accommodation; divide the workplace into different areas with each area manned by no more than 30 workers.

- Have workers undergo screening tests on a periodic basis and at the request of local health authority.

- On a weekly basis, send lists of all client companies and service providers that regularly make direct transactions with business establishments and industrial parks to industrial park management boards and Department of Health for monitoring purpose.

- For providers of services to business establishments and industrial parks: their workers must have negative RT-PCR test result 01 day before the day where the business establishment or industrial park resumes its operation and undergo screening tests on a weekly basis; they shall send a worker list to management board of the business establishment or industrial park for management and monitoring on a weekly basis; and arrange for a buffer zone for goods delivery.

- Minimize employment of temporary workers. If it is necessary to employ temporary workers, they must undergo centralized quarantine for 21 days in the centralized quarantine area of the business establishment or industrial park and test negative for the virus three times using the RT-PCR method (the tests shall be 07 days apart with the last test one day before the day where they begin working) and undergo a screening test on a weekly basis.

- Any business establishment or industrial park that does not have a healthcare unit must sign a contract with a healthcare unit.

- Properly adhere to regulations in Decision No. 2194/QD-BCDQG dated 27/5/2020 and organize compliance with 5K requirements.

9.2.2. Number of workers working: depending on the situation, reduce number of workers working by 25-50% if the business establishment or industrial park has more than 500 workers.

9.2.3. Business establishments and industrial parks must commit to comply with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control

- Regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control in workplaces, dormitories and accommodations of workers; regulations on worker transport plans; centralized accommodations, centralized quarantine areas; screening tests, etc.

- Other regulations at the request of local government.

X. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF PRIORITIZED COVID-19 VACCINE RECIPIENTS

10.1: Selecting business establishments and industrial parks in order of priority

- Business establishments and industrial parks having F0 cases

- Business establishments and industrial parks having F1 cases

- Business establishments and industrial parks near business establishments and industrial parks having F0 cases

- Business establishments and industrial parks located in communes having F0 cases

- Business establishments and industrial parks located in communes having F1 cases

- Business establishments and industrial parks near business establishments and industrial parks having F1 cases

10.2. Selecting vaccine recipients from business establishments and industrial parks

Order of priority for both Vietnamese and foreign workers:

- Persons having contact with F1 cases after they complete quarantine and have not received the vaccine

- Workers living in areas with confirmed cases or traveling from areas with epidemic hotspots.

- Leaders of business establishments, industrial parks, factories and divisions.

- Healthcare workers

- Cafeteria staff

- Delivery persons and goods providers

- Security guards and parking lot security guards

- Cleaning staff

- Members of COVID-19 safety teams of business establishments and industrial parks

- Other workers

Depending on the actual situation, leaders of business establishments and industrial parks may decide to select other persons.

XI. IMPLEMENTATION

11.1. People’s Committees / steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control of provinces and central-affiliated cities

- Direct formulation of plans for implementation of plans for COVID-19 prevention and control in case of COVID-19 cases in business establishments and industrial parks; inspect adoption of such plans; strictly handle and decide to suspend operation of business establishments and industrial parks failing to provide or implement COVID-19 prevention and control plans;

- Provide sufficient resources for plan implementation in case there is a COVID-19 case in a business establishment or industrial park.

11.2. Industrial park management boards and Departments of Labor - War Invalids and Social Affairs

- Establish steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control in industrial parks and business establishments;

- Request business establishments to sign a commitment to adopt measures for COVID-19 prevention and control.

11.3. Departments of Health

- Promulgate regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control in production as assigned; advise provincial People’s Committees to suspend operation of business establishments and industrial parks not safe from COVID-19.

- Formulate plans for testing, medical monitoring, care and treatment.

11.4. Other regulatory bodies

- Perform tasks assigned by provincial People’s Committees / steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control;

- Departments of Industry and Trade shall expedite business establishments and industrial parks to update the COVID-19 safety map.

- Departments of Transport shall provide guidelines for implementation of worker transport plans and inspect such implementation.

- Departments of Construction shall promulgate regulations and guidelines on centralized accommodations for workers in business establishments and industrial parks and inspect compliance therewith.

- Provincial police shall carry out permanent and temporary residence management for workers; ensure security and order in centralized quarantine areas / quarantined areas, business establishments and industrial parks.

11.5. Business establishments and industrial parks

- Launch COVID-19 prevention and control activities according to Decision No. 2194; formulate and implement plans for COVID-19 prevention and control in case of COVID-19 cases in business establishments and industrial parks.

- Sign a commitment to launch COVID-19 prevention and control activities with provincial industrial park and business establishment management boards.

- Request service providers to sign a commitment to adopt all COVID-19 prevention and control measures and inspect such adoption; send list of service providers to industrial park and business establishment management boards.

These are the guidelines on plans for COVID-19 prevention and control in case of COVID-19 cases in business establishments and industrial parks. Based on these guidelines and actual local COVID-19 situation, governments at all levels and business establishments and industrial parks shall consider and decide to adopt suitable prevention and control measures to ensure safe production. These guidelines will be updated as appropriate to actual COVID-19 prevention and control situation.

Any difficulty arising during the implementation of these guidelines should be promptly reported to the Ministry of Health (Health Environment Management Agency) for guidance and resolution. 

APPENDIX 1

GUIDELINES ON ESTABLISHMENT OF COVID-19 SAFETY TEAMS IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS AND INDUSTRIAL PARKS

1. Objective

Support promotion, supervision and organization of COVID-19 prevention and control activities in factories/ production lines/ production teams of business establishments and industrial parks.

2. Organization method

- Based on actual situation and needs of each locality, large business establishments and industrial parks may consider establishing COVID-19 safety teams at the workplace.

- Each COVID-19 safety team shall have 03 - 05 members, including division/ factory leader, members of the occupational safety and hygiene network/ occupational safety and hygiene officials/ exemplary workers with high sense of responsibility.

- Heads of business establishments and industrial parks have the power to decide establishment of COVID-19 safety teams

3. Duties of COVID-19 safety teams in business establishments and industrial parks:

Support steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control of business establishments and industrial parks in implementing COVID-19 prevention and control guidelines according to Decision No. 2194/QD-BCDQG dated 27/5/2020. To be specific:

- Promote, remind about, inspect and supervise adoption of measures against COVID-19 by workers at the workplace.

- Monitor and check health conditions of workers.

- Detect and reprimand violations against regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control of business establishments/ industrial parks and local government at the workplace and propose actions against such violations to responsible persons. Promptly report to managers and health units of business establishments and industrial parks upon detection of a worker with suspicious symptom (fever, cough, breathing difficulty, etc.) for handling as per regulations.

- Support business establishments, industrial parks and regulatory bodies in tracing F1 and F2 cases and in emergency situation where business establishments and industrial parks have a confirmed case or need to be quarantined according to the decision of the competent authority.

- Perform other suitable COVID-19 prevention and control tasks assigned by leaders of business establishments and industrial parks.

APPENDIX 2

REQUIREMENTS FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN WORKERS’ RENTED ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY

I. Regulated entities

- Owners of accommodations for rent

- Workers living in rented accommodations

- People’s Committees of the communes where rented accommodations are located.

- Business establishments where workers living in rented accommodations are working

II. Requirements for COVID-19 prevention and control in rented accommodations

1. Requirements in terms of rented accommodation’s conditions

- The accommodations must be well ventilated and each room must not be smaller than 05m2/person.

- There are hand washing stations with soap or hand sanitizer in common areas in rented accommodations.

- There are posters and leaflets promoting 5K requirements; phone numbers of community COVID-19 teams, hotlines of the healthcare sector and accommodation managers are publicly posted.

- It is recommended to have an enclosed sanitary facility in each room; a common bathroom should not be shared by more than 12 persons.

- There is sufficient domestic water.

- There are common washing liquids, water basins and mops for self-cleaning of the accommodations.

- There are waste containers with lids to collect waste on a daily basis.

- Conditions concerning security, public order and fire safety are fulfilled.

2. Requirements in terms of duties of relevant individuals

2.1. Responsibilities of tenants

- Properly make health declaration, install the Bluezone application, comply with 5K requirements and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control in accommodations.

- Do not have mass gatherings in rented accommodations. Do not leave rented accommodations unless necessary.

- Notify health condition to the commune-level healthcare station, hotline of the healthcare sector and business establishment/ industrial park upon development of symptoms such as fever, cough, throat pain or breathing difficulty and health issues.

- Sign a commitment to COVID-19 prevention and control with the accommodation owner and local government. Cooperate with community COVID-19 teams in measures against the disease.

2.2. Responsibilities of rented accommodation owners and managers

- Ensure that their accommodations fulfill the conditions for COVID-19 prevention and control according to Section 1 herein.

- Sign a commitment to comply with all regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control with the commune-level People’s Committee and request tenants to sign a commitment to adhere to  regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

- Provide the commune-level People’s Committee with a tenant list on a daily basis.

- Regularly check and remind tenants to comply with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control properly.

- Notify the commune-level People’s Committee when a tenant develops a symptom such as fever, cough, throat pain or breathing difficulty and other health issues.

- Cooperate with community COVID-19 teams in measures against the disease.

2.3. Responsibilities of commune-level People’s Committees

- Properly manage all workers’ rented accommodations in their communes.

- Establish community COVID-19 teams in rented accommodations, which shall include the accommodation owner or manager and worker representative.

- Impose penalties within their competence upon workers who fail to abide by regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control in rented accommodations and notify the employers of these workers.

- Request rented accommodation owners to have workers sign commitments and take responsibility for management of workers in their accommodations as per regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

- Regularly inspect proper compliance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control of rented accommodation owners/ managers. Strictly handle violations against regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

APPENDIX 3

GUIDELINES ON ESTABLISHMENT, MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF ISOLATED MEDICAL MONITORING AREAS FOR ASYMPTOMATIC COVID-19 CASES

I. Objectives

Isolate and monitor health condition of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases to prevent the disease from spreading to the community and COVID-19 hospital overload in the event where there is high infection rate in a province.

II. Isolation method

Medical isolation in centralized isolation facilities according to the 2007 Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases with medical monitoring and care.

III. Entities subject to isolated medical monitoring

COVID-19 cases who have yet to develop clinical symptoms.

IV. Isolated medical monitoring duration

At least 14 days from the day where the person to be isolated tests positive for the virus using the RT-PCR method if this person meets the requirements for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases according to Decision No. 2008/QD-BYT dated 26/4/2021.

V. Establishment of isolated medical monitoring areas

1. Select the location of the isolated medical monitoring area and issue a decision to establish it according to Decision No. 878/QD-BYT dated 12/03/2020.

2. Organization of an isolated medical monitoring area

2.1. Guard posts

- Guard posts shall be organized according to the guidelines in Decision No. 878/QD-BYT dated 12/3/2020.

- Put up a warning sign with red background and yellow text that reads “KHU CÁCH LY THEO DÕI Y TẾ - KHÔNG NHIỆM VỤ MIỄN VÀO” (“ISOLATED MEDICAL MONITORING AREA - UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS NOT ALLOWED”).

2.2. Vehicle disinfection points

- These points shall be located near the entrance of the isolated area.

- All vehicles that are allowed to enter and leave the isolated area shall be disinfected with 0,1% active chlorine solution.

2.3. Designated ways for COVID-19 patients, healthcare workers and service staff

2.4. Organization of internal areas

a) COVID-19 patient isolation sector

- Location:

+ It is best to choose an isolated and downwind area which is easy to observe and access.

+The isolation sector must be far from other functional areas and residential areas.

- Containment of the isolation sector:

+ Put up temporary or permanent fences around the isolation sector, whichever is available.

+ Put up a warning sign with red background and yellow text that reads “KHU VỰC DÀNH CHO NGƯỜI NHIỄM SARS-CoV-2 - KHÔNG NHIỆM VỤ MIỄN VÀO” (“AREA FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS - UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS NOT ALLOWED”).

- Entrance to the isolation sector:

+ Set up an entrance to the isolation sector with portable fences.

+ The following items shall be placed at the entrance to the isolation sector:

* Yellow containers with lids and foot pedals, lined with biohazard waste bags, and affixed with a “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“SARS-CoV-2 DANGERS”) label.

*Hand washing station with water and soap or hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

- Area for reception of isolated persons:

A convenient, spacious and well-ventilated area inside the isolation sector shall be used for reception, initial health check and classification of patients.

- Isolation rooms:

+ The rooms must be well-ventilated, frequently open their windows and avoid using air-conditioners.

+ Patient beds shall be placed at least 1 m away from each other. Bunk beds are allowed.

+ In front of each room, provide hand sanitizer and a yellow container with lid and foot pedal, lined with biohazard waste bag, and affixed with a “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“SARS-CoV-2 DANGERS”) label.

+ Each room shall have a broom, mop and cleaning towel, 02 buckets and disinfection solution or common cleaning substance for patients to clean and disinfect their room. All insects must be exterminated.

+ Put up an isolation room rule sign. Provide 24/24h hotline number for patients to contact where needed.

- Isolation rooms for patients having negative test result:

+ Arrange for an area with multiple isolation rooms for patients having negative test result (at least 02 rooms);

+ Each room shall have individual beds, hand sanitizer, gloves, face masks and a yellow container with lid and foot pedal, lined with biohazard waste bag, and affixed with a “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“SARS-CoV-2 DANGERS”) label;

- Rooms where patients who have developed symptoms are monitored while waiting for transfer to hospital: provide 01-02 backup rooms for people who develop Covid-19 symptoms during the isolation period. These backup rooms shall be located away from other isolation rooms and have surveillance cameras, oxygen tanks and some emergency aid equipment.

- Anterooms where workers wear and remove PPE:

+ The anteroom shall be located at the entrance of the isolation sector for workers to put on or remove PPE before entering or leaving the isolation sector.

+ The anteroom shall have PPE containers, hand sanitizer, seats used to wear PPE and a yellow container with lid and foot pedal, lined with biohazard waste bag, and affixed with a “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“SARS-CoV-2 DANGERS”) label;

- Bathrooms in the isolation sector: at least 01 bathroom for every 30 people.

It is best to have a separate bathroom in each isolation room. Otherwise, the bathroom area in the isolation sector shall:

+ Have separate rooms for men and women.

+ Have soap, clean water, toilet papers, common cleaning substances and yellow containers with lids and foot pedals, lined with biohazard waste bags, and affixed with a “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“SARS-CoV-2 DANGERS”) label.

+ Be cleaned every day.

+ Waste containers in portable restrooms must be emptied when they are full.

b) Area for management board, healthcare workers and service staff (administration area):

- The administration area shall be separated from the isolation sector, be located in an area convenient for travel and observing the isolation sector and have:

+ Computers, printers and office supplies.

+ Communications devices and cable and wireless internet.

- Loudspeakers or handheld megaphones for making announcements and providing instructions for isolated persons and staff in the isolated area.

- Hand washing station with clean water and soap, or hand sanitizer if hand washing station is not available.

- Separate bathrooms for men and women with soap, clean water and common cleaning substances.

- Domestic waste containers with lids, foot pedals and waste bags.

c) Kitchen, staircases, elevators, lobby and supply receipt area: these areas shall be organized according to the guidelines in Decision No. 878/QD-BYT dated 12/3/2020.

d)Temporary waste storage area:

- Wastes shall be temporarily stored in a separate area with roof, elevated floor and warning sign before they are transported to the treatment facility.

- There are yellow biohazard waste containers with lids, wheels, hard shell and “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“SARS-CoV-2 DANGERS”) label.

- There are domestic waste containers with lids, wheels and hard shell.

- There is a hand washing station with soap and clean water.

- There is disinfectant solution containing 0,05% active chlorine for disinfection of used waste containers.

dd) Medical equipment for monitoring of COVID-19 patients

- Emergency aid equipment: stretcher trolleys, oxygen tanks together with oxygen therapy equipment and some emergency aid equipment such as bag valve masks, anaphylaxis response kits and antipyretic drugs.

- Examination and monitoring equipment: thermometers, stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers, SpO2 monitors (01-02 pieces for every 100 patients).

- Sample collection equipment: equipment for collection of blood samples and nose and throat swabs for COVID-19 testing.

- Portable X-ray equipment.

e) Handling of textile items of healthcare workers: at least 01 washing machine and 01 dryer.

l) Waste management and environmental decontamination and disinfection: according to Decision No. 3455/QD-BCD dated 05/8/2020 and Official Dispatch No. 1560/BYT-MT dated 25/3/2020.

2.5. Healthcare workers

- 01 doctor and 02 nurses shall be in charge of every 50 patients; healthcare workers shall work in shifts to ensure 24/24 service.

- X-ray technicians and drivers shall be employed to operate portable X-ray equipment.

- Infection control staff: at least 01 worker for every facility with less than 200 COVID-19 patients. Facilities with more than 200 COVID-19 patients shall assign at least 01 infection control worker to every 200 patients.

- Equipment, textile item and waste handlers: at least 02 workers for every 50 COVID-19 patients.

- Surface cleaners: at least 02 workers for every 50 COVID-19 patients.

2.6. Other workers: according to the guidelines in Decision No. 878/QD-BYT dated 12/3/2020.

VIII. Organization of isolated medical monitoring

Isolated medical monitoring shall be organized in accordance with the guidelines in Decision No. 878/QD-BYT dated 12/3/2020 and the following regulations:

8.1. Infection prevention for workers of isolated medical monitoring areas

- Healthcare workers shall adopt droplet and contact precautions when visiting isolation rooms.

- Isolated medical monitoring areas shall draw up list of workers regularly work in the isolation sector and monitor their health on a daily basis.

- When a worker develops a suspicious symptom, place them under quarantine, manage their treatment and collect their samples as per regulations.

8.2. Handling when a COVID-19 patient develops symptoms in isolated medical monitoring area

1. Immediately report to the manager of the isolated medical monitoring area and Department of Health.

2. Immediately transfer the patient who has developed symptoms to a room for patients with symptoms. Transfer them to a treatment facility within 12 hours.

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