Viet Nam shortens mandatory quarantine period for fully vaccinated arrivals

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuan has recently signed document 6288/BYT-MT on shortened quarantine period for fully vaccinated entrants in accordance with Resolution 78/NQ-CP, dated July 20, 2021, opinions of researchers and scientists of the World Health Organization in Viet Nam, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The ministry also asks for fully vaccinated entrants to present certificate of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test (by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method) issued within 72 hours before arrival to Viet Nam.  

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Qualified entrants are those who have had received two 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).

Entrants who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (must present certificates of positive test for SAR-COV-2 by RT-PCR method of single sample no more than 6 months from the time of entry) are required to present certificates of recovery from SARS-CoV-2.

All entrants shall have to be tested for COVID-19 on the first and the seventh day of the quarantine period (counting from the entry date). The first test could use either rapid antigen or RT-PCR methods, but the second test must be RT-PCR one.

Those completing centralized quarantine and travelling to their residences/hotels/accommodation for further observation must wear masks, keep a distance, and use the contact tracing app Bluezone. The Bluezone app is required to be active during the seven days of follow-up observation.

Earlier, the northern province of Quang Ninh had been selected by the ministry to carry out pilot implementation of the seven-day quarantine in July.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam suspended entry of foreign arrivals from March 22, 2020 but this policy is not applicable to diplomats, officials, foreign investors, experts, and skilled workers.

On July 14, the ministry decided to cut the mandatory quarantine period for foreign arrivals and those who come in close contact with COVID-19 patients from 21 days to 14 days.

Viet Nam began to impose 21-day quarantine policy for both foreign arrivals and F1 individuals from May 5, 2021 after several individuals contracted COVID-19 though they had completed 14-day quarantine and tested negative for the virus twice or thrice.

As of early August 4, Viet Nam documented 174,461 cases including 2,328 imported infections./.

By Kim Anh