Official Dispatch 6288/BYT-MT concentrated quarantine period for fully vaccinated entrants

To:

- Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government-attached agencies;

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

In the implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 78/NQ-CP dated July 20, 2021 on COVID19 pandemic prevention and control; on the basis of opinions of researchers and scientists, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health (the standing agency of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control) hereby provides guidelines on quarantine for people permitted to enter Vietnam who have received a full dose of COVID-19 vaccine or have recovered from COVID-19 as follows:

1. Entrants who fully meet the following conditions shall be subject to 7-day concentrated quarantine and must self-monitor their health status for another 7 days (unless they entering Vietnam to work for less than 14 days and other cases according to instructions of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the Ministry of Health):

- Possessing a certificate of a negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test (by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method) issued within 72 hours before exiting by the competent agency of the country where the entrant was vaccinated.

- Possessing a certificate of having received full doses of COVID-19 vaccine (the last dose must be taken at least 14 days and no more than 12 months before the entry time);

For an entrant who was infected with SARS-CoV-2 (having a certificate of positive test for SAR-COV-2 by RT-PCR method of single sample no more than 6 months up to the time of entry) is required to present a certificate of recovery from SARS-CoV-2 or equivalent papers confirming the recovery from SARS-CoV-2 issued by the competent agency of the country where he/she was treated.

3. Entrants shall be tested for SARS-CoV-2 on the first and the seventh day, counting from the entry date (the first test could use either rapid antigen or RT-PCR methods, but the second test carried out on the seventh day must be a single-sample RT-PCR one). If the test result is positive, handling procedures shall comply with regulations.

4. The handover, transportation, and receipt of entrants who have completed their concentrated quarantine period for further medical surveillance and monitoring are prescribed as follows:

- The handover and receipt of entrants who have completed their concentrated quarantine period for further medical surveillance and monitoring shall comply with the Official Dispatch No. 425/CV-BCD dated January 19, 2021, of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, on guiding the handover and management after finishing the concentrated quarantine period.

- Entrants who have completed their concentrated quarantine period must comply with the 5K message, especially wear masks, keep a safe distance, turn on and use the Bluezone app, when traveling from the concentrated quarantine establishments to their places of residence.

- During the medical monitoring: Those who have completed their concentrated quarantine period must continue to use the Bluezone app until the end of the 14^th day from the date of entry. Always follow the 5K message, especially wear masks, avoid mass gatherings or visiting crowded places.

5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is requested to guide the inspection and recognition of the vaccination certificate, certificate of recovery from COVID-19, or equivalent papers issued by foreign agencies.

6. Provincial-level People's Committee and Ministries, branches are requested to:

- Direct the implementation of this Official Dispatch; ensure the strict quarantine management, observation, and handover, transportation, and receipt of those who have completed their concentrated quarantine, avoiding cross-infection and transmission in the community;

- Create favorable conditions for entrants who satisfy conditions specified in Section 1 of this Official Dispatch to be quarantined at hotels (if needed), in such case, they shall bear all expenses for transportation, quarantine, and other related costs as prescribed by the Provincial-level People's Committee.

Sincerely./.