Official Dispatch 796/BYT-MT 2022 regarding guidance on COVID-19 prevention and control when organizing on-site learning

To: The Ministry of Education and Training

In the implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021, promulgating the Interim Regulation on “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic”; pursuant to the current pandemic development in the world as well as in Vietnam, and the high rate of COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the country, the Ministry of Health develops and supplements the guidance on COVID-19 prevention and control in schools to facilitate the education institutions’ on-site teaching. To be specific:

1. Regarding the response when detecting F0 cases in education institutions:

Step 1: Upon detecting an F0 case, information about such case should be immediately reported to the Principal/the Steering Committee/Safety Group for COVID-19 prevention and control of the school. School officers or the Steering Committee/Safety Group for COVID-19 prevention and control of the school shall immediately transfer an F0 case to the temporary isolation room according to the arranged separate way.

Step 2: The Principal/the Steering Committee/Safety Group for COVID-19 prevention and control of the school shall immediately notify the commune-level health station or health facility assigned to assist the school in prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic for promptly handling.

Step 3: Regarding class where an F0 case is studying:

- The form teacher shall request his/her students not to leave their seats. School health staff and the Steering Committee/Safety Group for COVID-19 prevention and control of the school, commune-level health staff shall investigate and identify F0 cases according to medical guidelines (the identification of an F1 case shall comply with the Ministry of Health's Official Dispatch No. 11042/BYT-DP dated December 29, 2021, on changing COVID-19 case definition).

- School health staff and the Steering Committee/Safety Group for COVID-19 prevention and control of the school, commune-level health staff shall conduct COVID-19 rapid antigen tests for all students of that class. In case the test result is positive, such students shall be considered F0 cases and handled according to regulations.

- Students (other than F1 cases) who have a negative rapid antigen test result shall return to school normally.

- F1 cases whose rapid antigen test results are negative (complying with 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) shall:

+ Be subject to home quarantine and monitoring health at home or places of residence for 5 days and test (RT-PCR or rapid antigen test) on the 5^th day, if they are F1 cases who have received at least 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines (as stated on the COVID-19 vaccination certificate or Electronic health book or PC-Covid app) according to regulations, with the last dose given for at least 14 days, or they have been recovered from COVID-19 within 3 months up to the time such students are considered F1 cases (having a hospital discharge paper/certificate of recovery from COVID-19). Those whose test results are negative for SARS-CoV-2 on the 5^th day are allowed to return to schools, the schools and their parents shall continue monitoring the students’ health for the next 5 days and guide them to follow the 5K Message.

+ Be subject to home quarantine and monitoring health at home or places of residence for 7 days and tests (RT-PCR or rapid antigen test) on the 7^th day, if they are unvaccinated F1 cases or those who are not fully vaccinated. Those whose test results are negative for SARS-CoV-2 on the 7^th day are allowed to return to schools, the schools and their parents shall continue monitoring the students’ health for the next 3 days and guide them to follow the 5K Message.

+ During the quarantine and health monitoring period, any abnormal symptoms related to health such as cough, fever, dyspnoea, sore throat, loss of taste, etc. or other suspected symptoms should be immediately reported to the commune-level health stations and schools for monitoring and handling according to regulations.

- For preschools, kindergartens and childcare groups: If there is one child in the class who tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 (F0 case) by rapid antigen method, all children in that class shall be quarantined and monitored their health at home or places of residence for 7 days and tested by RT-PCR or rapid antigen method on the 7^th day. Those who are tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on the 7^th day are allowed to return to schools, the schools and their parents shall continue monitoring the children’s health for the next 3 days. Any abnormal symptoms related to health such as cough, fever, dyspnoea, sore throat, loss of taste, etc. or other suspected symptoms should be immediately reported by their parents/form teachers to the commune-level health stations, Principals/Steering Committees/Safety Groups for COVID-19 prevention and control of the schools for monitoring and handling according to regulations.

Step 4:

- Regarding class where an F0 case is studying: After identifying all F1 cases, the other students shall transfer to the backup room, and such room shall be disinfected.

- Regarding students of other classes:

+ Students who have no contact or communication with an F0 case are allowed to go to school normally.

+ Students who have close contact with an F0 case (F1 cases) shall be undergone a rapid antigen test and handled according to instructions provided in Step 3.

* Attention: In case where an F0 case is detected at home, his/her parent shall suspend his/her attendance at school and immediately notify the school and commune-level health station. The school and commune-level health station shall track related students (F1 cases) and handle them according to the above instructions.

2. Education institutions are not allowed to force all students to be tested before returning to schools for on-site learning; test is only required for suspected cases (those with symptoms of fever, cough, dyspnoea, etc. or other suspected symptoms) or those who have been in contact with F0 cases.

3. Regarding organization of semi-boarding services for students

- In case of day-boarding organization, the schools must fully comply with measures for pandemic prevention and control as guided by the health, education and training sectors, on the principle of minimizing communication or contact among students in the same class and different classes.

- Priority is given to the organization of eating, sleeping and resting in the classroom; students shall only eat and rest with their classmates, not with other classes.

- Students shall have their own food portions, wash hands with clean water and soap before and after their meals; it is recommended not to share personal belongings with others.

- The cafeteria shall be cleaned and disinfected after each student feeding session (if meals are organized in the school cafeteria).

- Food safety must be kept, avoiding food poisoning.

The Ministry of Health respectfully proposes the Ministry of Education and Training to, based on the above guidance, amend and supplement the Handbook for COVID-19 prevention and control in schools and other documents guiding the COVID-19 prevention and control promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Sincerely./.