HCMC – The HCMC Department of Health today, November 19, proposed the Ministry of Health halve the quarantine period from 14 to seven days for asymptomatic Covid-19 cases who have been fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19 on the seventh day of isolation.
In a proposal sent to the Ministry of Health, the department stated that since October 1, HCMC has taken measures to adapt safely and flexibly to and effectively control Covid-19, while production and business activities have been resumed, the local media reported.
In addition, over 99% of city residents aged 18 and older have got their first Covid-19 vaccine shots and 83% have received their second doses. The city has also administered the first dose to 95% of children 12 to 17 and will give the second dose to them in the last week of this month.
Thu Duc City and several districts have reported an increase in new Covid-19 cases. Thu Duc City and Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon, 12 and Binh Tan districts have recorded a significant spike in new cases.
At present, HCMC is treating more than 66,700 Covid patients. Most of them have reported no or mild symptoms.
To adapt to the new situation, HCMC will continue quarantining those meeting the requirements at home. Those with severe symptoms will be sent to Covid treatment hospitals.
According to the HCMC Department of Health, since the application of the Ministry of Health’s treatment guidelines issued on October 6, together with the use of the antiviral Molnupiravir, many cases with mild symptoms have recovered within a week of quarantine.
However, they must have continued completing the 14-day quarantine period. The long quarantine period and the increase in new cases have led to an overload at centralized quarantine centers and hospitals.
According to the department, the quarantine period should be shortened to improve the effectiveness of the Covid-19 treatment and prevent Covid-19 cases from severe illness or death.
HCMC can concurrently treat 120,000 Covid patients, including 66,000 at home, said director of the municipal Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong.
