Official Dispatch1909/BYT-DP 2022 on the change of COVID-19 case definition, and medical measures applicable to COVID-19 cases and close contacts

- Directors of Departments of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities;

- Heads of units affiliated to the Ministry of Health. 

Currently, the rate of vaccination against COVID-19 has reached high coverage nationwide, the rate of severe illness and death related to COVID-19 has continuously decreased, and most cases infected with SARS-CoV-2 show mild symptoms or no symptoms. It can be said that the pandemic is still under control in Vietnam. In order to harmonize socio-economic development and effectively control the COVID-19 pandemic, while implementing the motto of safe adaptation to, flexible and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Government's Resolution No. 38/NQ-CP dated March 17, 2022, promulgating the COVID-19 prevention and control program, the Ministry of Health requests the Directors of Health Departments of provinces and centrally-run cities, heads of units affiliated to the Ministry of Health to follow the regulations on the change of COVID-19 case definition, and medical measures applicable to COVID-19 cases and close contacts. To be specific:

1. COVID-19 case definition

1.1. Case subject to surveillance (suspected case) means one of the following persons:

a) A person who has epidemiological factors and the following symptoms:

- Fever and cough; or

- Having at least three of the following symptoms: Fever; cough; myalgia, fatigue, chills; headache; sore throat; stuffy or runny nose; reduction or loss of taste or smell; nausea; emesis; diarrhoea; dyspnoea.

b) A person who has a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen test result (except for the cases mentioned at Points b and c of Section 1.2).

c) A person with a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) or severe viral pneumonia (SVP) with an indication for hospitalization.

Persons with epidemiological factors: Including persons who have close contact with a confirmed case and persons who are present in the same vehicle or place, event, workplace, or classroom, etc. as the confirmed case during the transmission period.

1.2. Confirmed case means one of the following persons:

a) A person who has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by detection of viral genetic material (Realtime RT-PCR).

b) A person with clinical symptoms (as mentioned at Point a, Point c of Section 1.1), who has a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen test result.

c) A person with epidemiological factors who has a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen test result.

1.3. Close contact means one of the following persons:

- A person who has direct physical contact (including shaking hands, hugging, kissing, having direct skin-to-skin contact, body contact, etc.) with a confirmed case during the confirmed case’s transmission period.

- A person who wears a facial mask while having contact, communicating within one meter or is in the same narrow, closed space for at least 15 minutes as the confirmed case during the confirmed case’s transmission period.

- A person who wears no facial mask when having close contact or communication within one meter or is in the same narrow, closed space as the confirmed case during the confirmed case’s transmission period.

- A person who directly provides care, medical examination and treatment for the confirmed case during the transmission period of the confirmed case without personal protective equipment as prescribed.

The confirmed case’s transmission period:

- For symptomatic patients: The transmission period starts from 2 days prior to, and 10 days after symptom onset, plus at least 3 additional days without symptoms (including without fever and without respiratory symptoms).

- For asymptomatic cases: The transmission period starts from 2 days prior to, and 10 days after a positive test sample for SARS-CoV-2 is taken.

2. Medical measures applicable to the cases subject to surveillance, confirmed cases and close contacts

2.1. For confirmed cases and cases subject to surveillance

To take measures to prevent infection, isolation, testing, treatment and healthcare according to the Ministry of Health’s regulations.

2.2. For close contacts

Within 10 days after the date of last contact with the confirmed case during his/her transmission period, the close contact must strictly take the following medical measures:

- Measures to prevent infection, include wearing facial masks, regularly washing hands with soap and clean water/hand sanitizer, limiting close contact with others, especially avoiding being in contact with people with high risks, people with serious illnesses; avoiding sharing items on daily life, work or study with others; avoiding going to crowded places.

- Self-monitoring of health (parents/guardians/teachers shall monitor their children/students’ health). It is required to immediately report to the healthcare facilities for consultation, testing, diagnosis, treatment and health care as prescribed in case of showing symptoms of illness (fever and cough; or at least three of the following symptoms: Fever; cough; myalgia, fatigue, chills; headache; sore throat; stuffy or runny nose; reduction or loss of taste or smell; nausea; emesis; diarrhoea; dyspnoea).

- When obtaining a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, they must immediately report to the local healthcare facilities for consultation, treatment and health care and must take measures to prevent infection as prescribed.

This Official Dispatch replaces the Ministry of Health’s Official Dispatch No. 11042/BYT-DP dated December 29, 2021, on changing COVID-19 case definition and the Ministry of Health’s Official Dispatch No. 762/BYT-DP dated February 21, 2022, regarding medical isolation for COVID-19 cases and quarantine for close contacts.

The Ministry of Health hereby requests Directors of Departments of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities, heads of units affiliated to the Ministry of Health and relevant units to urgently implement this Official Dispatch./.