Official Dispatch 1265/BYT-DP 2022 prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic for people entering Vietnam

To:

- Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Government-attached agencies;

- People's Committees of provinces and municipalities.

Currently, the country still records a remarkably high number of new SARS-CoV-2 virus contracted cases every day while numerous cases infected by the Omicron variant have been recorded in the community. However, the rate of people nationwide being vaccinated against the COVID-19 has reached a high level (Vietnam was ranked as one of the countries with the highest rate of COVID-19 vaccination in the world), the number of severe cases and deaths due to the COVID-19 is put under control. In order to continue implementing the policy of “safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic”, the Ministry of Health (as the standing body of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control) hereby guides the concerned agencies to take measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic for people entering Vietnam, as follows:

1. Requirements on pandemic prevention and control for people entering Vietnam

1.1. Testing:

a) People entering Vietnam by air must be tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (except for children under 2 years of age) before departure within 72 hours if they take RT-PCR/RT-LAMP tests, or within 24 hours if they take rapid antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 virus, with the results thereof approved by the countries where the tests are conducted.

b) People entering Vietnam by other routes (land, waterway, railway), they must take the tests as required for people entering by air. In cases where they do not have negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 as required, the tests (RT-PCR/RT-LAMP tests or rapid antigen tests) for SARS-CoV-2 virus must be conducted within the first 24 hours after they enter Vietnam.

If they are tested negative, they shall be allowed to leave the accommodations and take preventive measures against the pandemic according to regulations. If they are tested positive, they must immediately make declarations to the local health agency for timely instructions.

c) Children under 2 years of age are exempt from the SARS-CoV-2 testing requirement and shall be allowed to enter Vietnam and participate in activities outside of their accommodations with their parents and relatives, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, or infected with SARS-CoV-2, or not.

1.2. Making medical declarations and medical quarantine at border gates

- People entering Vietnam must make medical declarations before entering the country and use the medical declaration app (PC-COVID app) during their stay in Vietnam according to regulations.

- At any border gate, if they show symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection (fever; cough; sore throat; runny nose, stuffy nose; body aches, fatigue, chills; decrease or loss of taste or smell; headache, diarrhea; shortness of breath; respiratory tract infections, etc.), they shall immediately notify the health agency at such border gate for taking medical measures according to regulations.

1.3. Monitoring health and taking preventive measures against the COVID-19

- Within 10 days from the date of entry, the people entering Vietnam shall self-monitor their health and, if they show symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection (fever; cough; sore throat; runny nose, stuffy nose; body aches, fatigue, chills; decrease or loss of taste or smell; headache, diarrhea; shortness of breath; respiratory tract infections, etc.), they must immediately notify the nearest medical facility for timely instructions and management as well as take pandemic preventive measures, regularly wear face masks, disinfect their hands with antiseptic solutions.

- For those who have not tested negative for SAR-CoV-2 before departure from their home countries, during their transportation from the border gates to their accommodations, they shall avoid stopping their vehicles en route and interacting closely with people around them.

2. This Official Dispatch replaces Official Dispatch No. 10688/BYT-MT dated December 16, 2021 of the Ministry of Health on COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control for people entering Vietnam; Official Dispatch No. 10943/BYT-MT dated December 24, 2021 of the Ministry of Health providing the medical guidance on COVID-19 prevention and control for people who are allowed to enter Vietnam to work for a short term (under 14 days), Decision 2553/QD-BYT dated June 18, 2020 of the Ministry of Health on the promulgation of “Interim guidance on medical quarantine to prevent COVID-19 infection for vehicles and drivers of freight vehicles at border gates by road, railway, waterway and air”; Official Dispatch No. 429/BYT-MT dated January 26, 2022 on pandemic prevention and control for flight crews on international flights.

The Ministry of Health (as the standing agency of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control) requests the provincial-level People's Committees, ministries and sectors to direct their affiliates to organize the implementation hereof to reduce the risk of infection for people entering the country, their companions and the community.

Best regards./.