Official Dispatch 5389/BYT-MT 2021 receipt of people returning from HCM City

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

Due to the complicated and unpredictable developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City which continues spread rapidly to some neighboring localities in recent days, it is necessary to take drastic actions to timely repel and control the pandemic. In the implementation of the Notice No. 177/TB-VPCP dated July 06, 2021 of the Government Office, notifying the conclusion of the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the online meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City and 07 provinces in the Northern Key Economic Region on the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control; the Ministry of Health (the Standing agency of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control) hereby requests People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct the implementation of the following contents:

1. The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City shall: discuss and reach an agreement with People’s Committees of provinces and cities before sending people from Ho Chi Minh City to other provinces and cities, and at the same time, arrange vehicles to transport them, ensuring requirements on COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control as prescribed.

2. People’s Committees of provinces and cities receiving people returning from Ho Chi Minh City shall request:

- All people returning from Ho Chi Minh City (except for those who travel from other provinces and cities and pass through Ho Chi Minh City but do not stop or park) shall be considered as people in close contact with close contacts of the confirmed case and must be quarantined at home for 07 days from the date of return to their localities, and continue to self-monitor their health for the next 07 days. Concurrently, they must be tested three times, in the 1^st day, the 3^rd day and the 6^th day during the home quarantine period.

- During the self-monitoring of health, people returning from Ho Chi Minh City are requested to avoid being in contact with surrounding people or participating in crowded events. If showing any signs of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or loss of taste, they must immediately notify the nearest medical establishments for timely instruction and settlement as prescribed.

- With regard to drivers of vehicles transporting goods into or out of the City, it is required to comply with the pandemic prevention and control requirements as guided by the Ministry of Health in the Official Dispatch No. 898/BYT-MT dated February 07, 2021, guiding the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic in transport of goods and the Official Dispatch No. 4351/BYT-MT dated May 28, 2021, on enhancing the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic in transport of goods.

The Ministry of Health (the Standing agency of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control) hereby requests localities to urgently implement them.

Sincerely./.