Official Dispatch No. 1265/BYT-DP dated March 15, 2022 on COVID-19 prevention and control for entrants

To:

- Ministries, ministerial authorities and governmental authorities;
- The People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities.

Currently, the number of daily new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in our country is still high and the Omicron variant has been detected in the community. However, COVID-19 vaccination rate in Vietnam has reached a high level (Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest rate of COVID-19 vaccination in the world); the numbers of deaths and severe cases are still under control. Continuing to implement the policy on "safety, flexibility and effective control of the COVID-19 epidemic", the Ministry of Health (the standing authority of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control) provides guidance on implementation of anti-covid measures for entrants as follows:

1. Requirements for COVID-19 prevention and control for entrants:

1.1. Testing:

a) Entrants entering Vietnam by air must have negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 (except for children aged under 2) with RT-PCR /RT-LAMP within 72 hours before exit or with antigen rapid test within 24 hours before exit, and the test results must be certified by competent authorities of the country in which the test is done.

b) Entrants entering Vietnam by land, by sea or by rail must have test results as prescribed at point (a).

In case an entrant does not have negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 as specified at point (a) above-mentioned, he/she must do a test for SARS-CoV-2 within the first 24 hours (with RT-PCR/RT-LAMP or antigen rapid test) since entry. If the test result is negative, he/she is allowed to leave his/her accommodation and implement anti-covid measures as prescribed. If the test result is positive, immediately notify local health authorities for guidance.

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1.2. Health declaration and quarantine at the checkpoints

- Entrants must carry out health declaration before entry and use PC-COVID application throughout their stay in Vietnam as prescribed.

- At the border checkpoints, anyone who have symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection (fever; cough; sore throat; runny nose, stuffy nose; body pain, fatigue, chills; decrease or loss of taste; decrease or loss of smell; headache; diarrhea; shortness of breath; respiratory tract inflammation, etc., must notify health authorities at the checkpoints for implementation of health measures as prescribed.

1.3. Monitoring health and applying anti-covid measures

- Within 10 days from the date of entry: the entrants must self-monitor their health. Anyone who have symptoms of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection (fever; cough; sore throat; runny nose, stuffy nose; body pain, fatigue, chills; decrease or loss of taste; decrease or loss of smell; headache; diarrhea; shortness of breath; respiratory tract inflammation, etc., must notify the nearest health facility for prompt guidance and management; implement preventive measures: regularly wear face masks and clean their hands with an antiseptic solution.

- For entrants who do not have negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 before leaving their country: avoid stopping, parking and having contact with other people while moving from the checkpoint of entry to their accommodation. 

2. This Official Dispatch replaces Official Dispatch No. 10688/BYT-MT dated December 16, 2021 of the Ministry of Health on the prevention and control of COVID-19 for entrants; Official Dispatch 10943/BYT-MT dated December 24, 2021 of the Ministry of Health on providing medical guidance on the prevention and control of COVID-19 for guest workers allowed to enter Vietnam (under 14 days); Decision 2553/QD-BYT dated June 18, 2020 of the Ministry of Health promulgating "Interim guidance on medical quarantine work to prevent COVID-19 infection for vehicles and drivers of cargo transport vehicles at road, railway, waterway and air checkpoints”; Official Letter No. 429/BYT-MT dated January 26, 2022 on epidemic prevention and control for flight crews on international flights.

The People's Committees of provinces, ministries and central authorities shall direct units under their management to organize implementation of this document in order to reduce the risk of infection for their companions and the community.

Sincerely./.

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PP. MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER




Nguyen Truong Son