Quang Ninh issues temporary guides on Covid-19 prevention and control for foreign entries

The People's Committee of Quang Ninh has just issued Document No. 9519/UBND-DL1 on providing temporary guidance on foreign entries amid Covid-19.

Accordingly, within the first 3 days from the date of entry, immigrants who have received enough doses of vaccine against Covid-19 or have recovered from Covid-19 have to self-monitor their health at their places of residence (houses, hotels, motels, resorts, headquarters of representative agencies, dormitories, guest houses, etc). They are not allowed to come into contact with people around or leave the accommodation. They must actively submit health declaration to local health departments (at commune level) to conduct management and testing for SARS-CoV-2 in line with defined regulations.

These people have to take Covid-19 testing via the RT-PCR method on the 3rd day from the date of entry. If the test results are negative for SARS-CoV-2, they will continue to self-monitor their health until the end of 14 days from the date of entry.  In case the test result is positive, it will be handled according to defined regulations.

For those who have not been vaccinated or have not had enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine, self- isolation at the place of residence is compulsory for 7 days from the date of entry and SARS-CoV-2 tests by RT-PCR method have to be conducted on the 3rd and 7th day. If the test result is negative for SARS-CoV-2, these people continue to self-monitor health until the end of 14 days from date of entry. In case the test result is positive, it will be handled according to defined regulations.

Regarding immigrants under 18 years old (hereinafter referred to as children), people aged 65 years or older (hereinafter referred to as elderly), pregnant women, people with underlying medical conditions (but not being monitored and under treatment at medical facilities), is compulsory to be isolated with parents/carers (hereinafter referred to as caregivers). Caregivers must have received a full dose of COVID-19 vaccine or have recovered from COVID-19, and must sign a commitment to voluntarily self-isolate after being explained about the risks of COVID-19 infection. They must also strictly comply with the requirements on testing and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control like those on entry.

After a 7-day quarantine period (for those who have not been vaccinated or have not had enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine) and 3 days of medical monitoring (for those who have received all doses of the vaccine or have recovered from the disease within 14 days), immigrants must self monitor their health and fully comply with 5K regulations (wearing masks, making medical declarations, disinfecting hands regularly, not going to crowded places, not gathering). In case they have some signs of cough, fever, difficulty breathing, sore throat, etc., they have to immediately notify the local health department for handling their cases according to regulations.

A compulsory requirement is that all immigrants must have a negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 (by RT- PCR / RT-LAMP method) within 72 hours before entering Vietnam and being approved by funtional agencies of the country carrying out the certification test (except in the case of children under 2 years old).

They have to make medical declaration before entry and must install and use a medical declaration application (PC-COVID) to make medical declarations and monitor health according to Vietnam's regulations.

They are supposed to paying for testing costs, medical isolation, medical examination and treatment and other related expenses (if any) in the prevention and control of  COVID-19 as prescribed in Resolution No. 16/NQ- CP dated February 8, 2021 of the Government on the cost of medical isolation, medical examination and treatment and some specific regimes in the prevention and control of COVID-19.

This guidance has been applied since January 1, 2022. It is not for those who have already been in the period of quarantine, isolation, and medical monitoring as prescribed before this document is issued.