Official Dispatch 9472/BYT-MT 2021 implementation of Resolution 128/NQ-CP of October 11, 2021

             On October 11, 2021, the Government issues the Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP on promulgating the Interim Regulation on “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic” (the Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP). Implementing the above Resolution, on October 12, 2021, the Ministry of Health promulgates the Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT on issuing the Interim Guidance for implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP (the Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT).

On the basis of monitoring and synthesizing opinions of ministries, sectors and localities in the course of implementing the Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP and Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT, the Ministry of Health requests ministries/sectors and People's Committees of provinces and cities to continue to implement the following contents:

1. Directing the organization of implementation and the strict implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP and  the Ministry of Health’s Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT; proactively assess in a regular manner the pandemic risk level at each administrative level (from the commune level and the smallest possible scale is encouraged) to take appropriate medical and administrative measures, publish and update the assessment results on the portals of provincial-level People's Committees and of the Ministry of Health.

2. Directing the strengthening of proactive reviewing, supervision and testing of high-risk cases from pandemic-hit areas according to the Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT dated October 12, 2021 and Official Telegram No. 1700/CD-BYT dated October 25, 2021 of the Ministry of Health, to be specific:

2.1. For the organization of testing for SARS-CoV-2:

- Directing proactive testing for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR technique or rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 (not require people to submit test results when they enter the province or city);

- If their SARS-CoV-2 test results are positive, to handle according to regulations. Based on the localities’ conditions, provincial-level Departments of Health shall direct the management of confirmed cases at health establishments or at home in accordance with the Decision No. 4038/QD-BYT dated August 21, 2021 of the Ministry of Health and the establishment of mobile health stations to ensure health care and pandemic prevention and control for citizens according to the Decision No. 4042/QD-BYT dated August 21, 2021 of the Ministry of Health.

2.2. For the organization of quarantine and health monitoring:

- For people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (having a green card shown on the electronic health record or a certificate of having received full doses of COVID-19 vaccine issued by the competent agency), or people who have recovered from COVID-19 no more than 6 months up to the time of return to the locality (possessing a hospital discharge paper or certificate of recovery from COVID-19): They shall self-monitor their health status at home or accommodations within 07 days from the date of return to the localities, strictly comply with the 5K Messages; be tested on the first day; and notify health agencies for monitoring and handling as prescribed upon showing any abnormal signs such as cough, fever, dyspnoea, sore throat, loss of taste;

- For people not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (possessing a yellow card shown on the electronic health record or a certificate of having received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine issued by the competent agency): They shall be quarantined at home or accommodations for 07 days from the date of return to the localities; continue to self-monitor their health status for the next 07 days and always comply with the 5K Messages; be tested on the first and seventh days from the date of return to the localities;

- For people unvaccinated against COVID-19: They shall be quarantined for 14 days from the date of return to the localities; continue to self-monitor their health status for the next 14 days and strictly comply with the 5K Messages; be tested on the first, seventh, and fourteenth days from the date of return to the localities;

- For those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from COVID-19 in other countries, the inspection and recognition of vaccination certificates and certificates of recovery from COVID-19 or other equivalent papers issued by foreign agencies shall comply with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ guidance.

3. Directing production and business establishments, service providers, trade centers, supermarkets, agencies and offices (hereinafter referred to as labor-employing establishments) to implement the following contents:

3.1. Strictly implementing self-organization of SARS-CoV-2 testing for their employees: (i) carrying out testing when the employees show any symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, loss of taste and smell, dyspnoea, etc. or there arises an epidemiological factor; (ii) carrying out testing when they resume their production; (iii) carrying out random testing, for employees with high risk of COVID-19 infection. Carrying out pooled sample testing, for screening and routine testing: rapid antigen test (with 3-5 samples to be pooled each) or testing by RT-PCR technique (with 10-20 samples to be pooled each).

3.2. Based on the actual situation of labor-employing establishments in the area, for each pandemic risk level, the localities shall proactively decide on: frequency and rate of random testing for workers with high risk of infection; plans to organize concentrated accommodation, quarantine and production when confirmed cases are recorded at labor-employing establishments. The application of the contents related to the frequency and rate of testing, plans of concentrated accommodation, quarantine, and organization of production when confirmed cases are recorded at labor-employing establishments that are specified in the documents No. 2787/QD-BYT of June 05, 2021, No. 6565/BYT-MT of August 12, 2021, No. 6666/BYT-MT of August 16, 2021, No. 8228/BYT-MT of September 30, 2021 of the Ministry of Health shall be ceased.

The Ministry of Health requests ministries, sectors and People's Committees of provinces and cities to urgently direct, organize and implement the above contents.

Sincerely./.