The mandatory concentrated quarantine for those enter Vietnam from abroad or had close contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases will be extended from the current14 days to 21 days, and the new regulation takes effect from May 5, Minister ofHealth Nguyen Thanh Long has said.
The decision was made after consultation with epidemiologists andvirologists in light of new variants of the virus prompting revisions toour knowledge of disease incubation time, he said.
The new protocol aims to “protect the community from the spread ofcoronavirus” amid recent cases found positive following the completion of14-day quarantine, Long said.
The minister requested local health departments and centres for diseasecontrol to strictly comply with concentrated quarantine protocols to avoidcross-infection within quarantine facilities and transfer people who havecompleted concentrated quarantine to the authorities in their residence.
The follow-up medical observation period at home for those who havecompleted concentrated quarantine will be cut from two weeks to seven days.
People who return from quarantine facilities should make daily healthdeclarations with local medical workers. If they show signs of fever, cough,sore throat, shortness of breath, tiredness or loss of taste, they must go tothe closest health clinic for guidance, a dispatch from the health ministryfrom earlier this morning, which still put the quarantine period at 14-day butprovided tightened regulations.
They are not allowed to leave their houses or places of residence. Ifthey need to go out for work or other necessary purposes, they must report tolocal police and medical staff and strictly follow basic prevention measures.
Long also requested all localities to review cases of foreignersentering Vietnam and screen high-risks groups of people like those in servicesectors like at discotheques, bars, karaoke bars, and massage parlours forCOVID-19.
He also called on the public for strict observance of basic preventionand control measures like 5K – Khau trang (face mask), Khukhuan (disinfection), Khoang cach (distance), Khongtu tap (no large gatherings), and Khai bao y te (healthdeclaration).
Previously, in late April, a Vietnamese national returning from Japanhas found to be infected with the virus after finishing 14-day concentrated quarantineand caused a cluster of infections in the northern province of Ha Nam.
An Indian expert in Hanoi wasconfirmed on May 4 to be carrying the virus after 14 days of concentrated quarantine./.