Official Dispatch No. 425/CV-BCD 2021 handover and management after completion of concentrated quarantine

To:

- The Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defence, and the Ministry of Transport;

- People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities.

Currently, the Covid-19 pandemic remains complicated all around the world. The number of infected cases shows no sign of reduction while the new variants of the virus are rapidly spreading and have been recorded in over 50 countries, of which 20 countries have recorded transmission in the community; and the number of Vietnamese citizens returning home at the end of the year has increased dramatically. Therefore, the risk of outbreak and spreading into our country is very high. In order to actively strengthen the prevention and control of pandemic, especially during the great events of the country, Lunar New Year, and in order to implement the direction of Mr. Vu Duc Dam - the Prime Minister and Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control at its meeting dated January 07, 2021, on strengthening the management after completion of concentrated quarantine; the direction of the Ministry of Health (the Standing body of the National Steering Committee) on COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Transport and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities are requested to direct and organize to implement the following contents:

1. To review and reorganize the handover, receipt, and transport of those who have completed the concentrated quarantine period to their places of residence for continuing to monitor and supervise for the next 14 days (after having a decision on completion of the quarantine). To be specific:

a) The principle that people who have completed their concentrated quarantine period must have adequate conditions, papers, and testing results when being received by the local government shall be complied with.

- Units receiving quarantined persons and units handling quarantined persons: Health agencies of localities where quarantine establishments are located, units organizing the quarantine, people subject to quarantine, and health agencies of localities where the quarantined people stay after the concentrated quarantine. In case the health agencies of localities where the quarantined people staying after the quarantine are located far away from their first quarantine establishments, a written document signed with local health agencies of places where the first quarantine establishments are located and written notice to the latter local health agencies are required.

2. To direct relevant units and individuals:

- Units managing the concentrated quarantine establishments shall provide detailed guidance for people who have completed their concentrated quarantined period to self-monitor their health for the next 14 days at home or places of residence. To limit to contact surrounding people or go to crowded places and regularly take measures to prevent and control pandemic according to the 5K message of the Ministry of Health and other personal protective measures.

- Departments of Health (the Standing body of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control) of localities where the concentrated quarantine is carried out shall send written notice on the list of people who have completed the concentrated quarantined immediately after they receive the decisions on completion of the quarantine (including telephone number or/and email address, addresses of places of residence and a copy of relevant papers) to Departments of Health of provinces or cities where quarantined people stay after their concentrated quarantine period and relevant units for monitoring, supervision and medical surveillance for the next 14 days.

- To promote the information technology application in monitoring and managing people subject to concentrated quarantine.

- People subject to quarantine must make a declaration to the secretaries of hamlet (quarter) party cells and heads of hamlets (quarters) when arriving at their places of residence and must have a commitment to self-monitor their health at home or places of residence, and at the same time, actively notify local health agencies of their places of residence about their health conditions and record a diary of close contact for the next 14 days.

3. Transport from the concentrated establishments to the places of residence

3.1. By road vehicles:

- It is required to transport by private vehicles (arranged by people who have completed the quarantine or agencies employing people on entry or the owners of concentrated quarantine establishments or local authorities): Such vehicles must be registered in advance with the units managing the concentrated quarantine establishments. It is not allowed to organize the transport for a large number of people (only a driver and/or the supervisor).

- People who have completed the quarantine, the driver, or the accompanying persons (if any) must wear masks during the transport. It is required to arrange and regularly use hand sanitizer when getting on and getting off a vehicle and during transport; to install and open the tracing application (Bluezone) and take personal protective measures as prescribed.

- Close contact (< 2m) with others during the transport is restricted.

- To avoid stopping for food during the transport. It is recommended to drive straight from the concentrated quarantine establishments to home or places of residence.

3.2. By airplanes or ships:

- To contact and notify the transport units in advance about the people who have completed the concentrated quarantine to have a plan on arranging pandemic prevention and control measures (such as seats and infection prevention and control measures, etc.) when using vehicles.

- People who have completed the quarantine must strictly comply with personal protective measures and infection prevention measures as prescribed by the transport units during the transport. To regularly wear masks and use hand sanitizer before and during travel by airplanes or ships. To make a health declaration, install and open the tracing application (Bluezone) and take personal protective measures as prescribed.

4. Departments of Health of provinces or cities where quarantined people stay after the quarantine period shall receive their information, check and carry out health monitoring for the next 14 days (after having a decision on completion of the concentrated quarantine).

The Ministry of Health (the Standing body of the National Steering Committee) hereby requests the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Transport, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct and organize the implementation.

Sincerely./.