Hanoi (VNA) - A document providing temporary guidance tomonitor people entering Vietnam to ensure the dual goal of both preventingthe COVID-19 pandemic and developing the economy has been issued.

Underthe Ministry of Health (MoH)’s Document No 4995/BYT-DP, the guidance isapplicable to people entering Vietnam to work for more than 14 days, includingforeigners holding diplomatic passports, official passports, investors, highlyskilled workers, business managers, international students and foreignrelatives of Vietnamese citizens from countries where the pandemic is undercontrol.

Beforeentry, immigrants must register with a quarantine centre and outlinetheir specific work schedule in Vietnam. They must also have a certificatein English proving they had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 from three to fivedays before entry.

Onentry, immigrants must have their temperatures checked and undergotests to detect suspected cases of disease. When suspected cases aredetected, they must take prescribed management measures. In case rapid testingis not available at the border gate, they must move to a registeredquarantine centre and ensure they follow safety regulations under theguidance of the MoH.

Whilstthey are in quarantine, the immigrants will undergo tests forSARS-CoV-2. If their first results are negative, they will be keptin quarantine under medical supervision until their second tests. Allcases are to be tested for a second time on the sixth day from their dateof entry, or as soon as symptoms are suspected. If there is a positive testresult, the person will be immediately quarantined at a medical facility andfollow treatment according to the current regulations for COVID-19. Peoplewho have close contact with confirmed patients must be quarantined for 14days.

Ifthe second test result is negative, they will be allowed to go home toself-isolate for 14 days and take preventive measures following guidancefrom the MoH.

Atthe accommodation, immigrants must strictly implement measures for medicalsupervision, pandemic prevention, avoid contact with the community andimmediately notify health authorities if they show symptoms of thedisease. They must also make a list of names and phone numbers of peoplethey come into close contact with until the end of the 14th day.Local health authorities will perform medical surveillance according to regulationsand take samples for SARS-CoV-2 virus on the 14th day of entry or when there aresymptoms of the illness./.