Following the Prime Minister's direction on permitting foreigners to work in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has formulated "Temporary guidance on supervision of people entering Vietnam" (attached document).

The Ministry of Health requests ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies and People's Committees of provinces and cities to implement the following:

1. Initiate the implementation of Temporary guidance on supervision of people entering Vietnam to ensure safety in prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic.

2. Inspect and assess the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic during the stay of foreigners in Vietnam.

3. Report the implementation results to the Ministry of Health (via General Department of Preventive Medicine).

For further information, please contact the General Department of Preventive Medicine affiliated to Ministry of Health (Alley 135 Nui Truc - Ba Dinh - Hanoi./.)

Yours sincerely./.

TEMPORARY GUIDANCE

ON SUPERVISION OF PEOPLE ENTERING VIETNAM
(Enclosed with Official Dispatch No. /BYT-DP dated September 9, 2020 of the Ministry of Health)

I. PURPOSE

Monitor and test people entering Vietnam in the new context to ensure the realization of the dual goal of preventing pandemic and developing economy.

II. SCOPE, REGULATED ENTITIES

III. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

- Strictly and fully comply with the instructions of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 prevention and control and the Ministry of Health on supervision and medical isolation in order to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection from abroad.

- Use effectively and appropriately the existing SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic reagents on the basis of the implementation of the testing plan to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection and relevant guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

- In the case of testing at a border checkpoint, simple techniques with high sensitivity, quick results return and no complicated equipment required (including class II biosafety lab) shall apply.

- In line with the local and regional capacities and resources in organizing the implementation of medical supervision, testing and isolation measures.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Before entry

- Prepare a certificate confirming negative SARS-CoV-2 result (in English) tested by the viral RNA (RT-PCR/RT-LAMP, etc.) detection from a competent health authority 3-5 days before entry.

2. Upon entry

a) Check the certificate confirming negative SARS-CoV-2 result provided by the entrant.

b) Take body temperature, and medical examination to detect suspected cases,. In case of any suspected case, take the measures as prescribed

c) Collect information about the concentrated quarantine facility, inform the local governments for further monitoring and supervision. Guide the entrants to make electronic medical declaration, install and use tracking applications.

d) Take samples for testing at the border checkpoint (if any):

- Arrange separate sampling areas, ensure epidemic prevention.

- Divide flows of movement to the sampling area.

- If the test result is positive, the medical isolation at the medical facility shall be applied immediately, the entrants shall have their samples taken for testing, treated in accordance with current regulations for cases with COVID 19.

- If it is negative or not clear, the entrants are taken to their registered quarantine facility by a dedicated vehicle arranged by the local authorities or People’s Committee in compliance with the safety regulations during movement as instructed by the Ministry of Health under the Decision No. 1246/QD-BYT dated March 20, 2020.

- Then, the entrants shall be grouped based on their rapid test results for leaving the entry area.

e) In case a rapid test has not been taken at the border checkpoint, the entrants shall be taken to their registered quarantine facility in compliance with the safety regulations by the Ministry of Health under the Decision No. 1246/QD-BYT dated March 20, 2020.

3. At the concentrated quarantine facility

The entrants will have their samples taken for SARS-CoV-2 test by viral RNA detection technique (RT-PCR/RT-LAMP, etc.):

- In the case of non-performance of test at the checkpoint or unclear test result, the test sample shall be taken as soon as the entrants arrive at the concentrated quarantine facility. If the test result is a positive, immediate isolation at a medical facility shall be applied; the entrants shall be treated in accordance with current regulations for cases with COVID 19. If it is negative, quarantine, monitoring and medical supervision will be maintained until the second test sample is taken.

- All cases are sampled for the second test on the 6th day of entry or as soon as they have suspected symptoms of disease. If the test result is a positive, immediate isolation at a medical facility shall be applied; the entrants shall be taken samples for testing, treated in accordance with current regulations for cases with COVID 19. Those in close contact shall be quarantined for further 14 days.

Travel from the quarantine facility to the accommodation must be carried out by private vehicles according to regulations of the Ministry of Health.

4. At the accommodation

- The entrants shall strictly implement measures of medical supervision, quarantine, epidemic prevention, avoid contact with the community and immediately notify the health authorities upon any sign of suspicion of being infected with COVID.

- Make the list of people in close contact with the entrants until the end of 14 days of entry, specifying their full name, phone numbers.

- The local health authorities carry out medical supervision according to regulations and take samples for SARS-CoV-2 test by viral RNA detection (RT-PCR/RT- LAMP…) on the 14th day of entry or upon any suspected symptoms. If the test result is positive, the medical isolation at the medical facility shall be applied immediately, the entrants shall have their samples taken for testing, treated in accordance with current regulations for cases with COVID 19.

IV. ASSIGNMENTS

1. Ministries and central authorities

- Based on the needs of agencies and organizations within their management, propose a list of entrants to work and coordinate with the local People's Committees and the Ministry of Public Security (Immigration Department) for consideration.

- Coordinate with the People's Committees of administrative divisions to direct relevant units to organize the management of entrants, including dividing flows of movement, medical examination, sampling, and strict supervision of pick-up of experts to quarantine facilities; management of quarantine facilities; ensuring security and order and ensuring safety against the pandemic.

- Inform and guide local agencies and organizations that have entry demand, and experts to implement this guide and relevant instructions and directive documents of the National Steering Committee, Ministry of Health.

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Ministry of Health shall update the list of health facilities authorized to perform tests and provide certificates of negative SARS-CoV-2 result in the countries concerned in this guidance.

2. People's Committees of provinces and cities

- Based on the needs of agencies and organizations in the province, the People's Committee of province shall decide a list of entrants for working purpose and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security (Immigration Department) for consideration.

- Review and update concentrated quarantine facilities for entrants in the province to ensure epidemic prevention according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

- Direct relevant units to organize the management of entrants, including dividing flows of movement, medical examination, sampling, and strict supervision of pick-up of experts to quarantine facilities; management of quarantine facilities; ensuring security and order and ensuring safety against the pandemic.

- Inform and guide local agencies and organizations that have entry demand, and experts to implement this guide and relevant instructions and directive documents of the National Steering Committee, Ministry of Health.

- Assign the Department of Health of the province or city to act as the focal point to be responsible for: arranging sampling, testing, monitoring, and handling confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19 in accordance with local resources.

- Inspect and supervise the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures in selected concentrated quarantine facilities and the implementation of epidemic prevention and control activities for entrants and relevant cases. .

- Organize the travel or direct units, businesses, hotels to organize the travel for experts according to regulations. The travel of experts within 14 days must be carried out by private vehicles according to regulations of the Ministry of Health.

3. Immigration agency

- Coordinate with relevant units to develop plans to manage entrants.

- Manage the list of all cases working with entrants and proactively provide the list for relevant units to implement pandemic prevention and control measures

- Strictly comply with the regulations and instructions on the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemic and proactively inform and guide entrants and in related cases current regulations on the prevention and control of Covid-19 in Vietnam.

APPENDIX 1

SUPERVISION PROCESS AT THE BORDER CHECKPOINT

APPENDIX 2

NON-TESTING PROCESS AT BORDER CHECKPOINT

1 Countries where the pandemic are under control based on the actual pandemic situation. Vietnamese people and people entering from another country shall comply with current regulations on supervision and quarantine.

2 Hotels and places are allowed to conduct centralized quarantine by People's Committees of provinces and cities.

3 Upper respiratory tract fluid.

4 Biologicals licensed by the Ministry of Health or recommended by the World Health Organization or the US CDC, preferably using highly sensitive antigen rapid diagnostic reagents using saliva samples.

5 Place of residence, public house, workplace of the entrant

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