HCMC – The Ministry of Health has proposed allowing fully-vaccinated air passengers entering Vietnam to self-quarantine at home for three days, instead of staying at centralized quarantine centers for seven days.
To prepare for reopening international air routes from early next year, the Ministry of Health is consulting with the relevant ministries and agencies over its latest draft anti-pandemic plan, including new quarantine regulations, the local media reported.
Accordingly, fully-vaccinated immigrants will undergo a Covid-19 RT-PCR test on the third day after arrival. If the result is negative, they will monitor their health for 10 more days.
Vietnamese nationals and foreigners entering Vietnam must test negative for Covid-19 upon arrival, except for children aged below two, and install and use health declaration apps in line with Vietnamese regulations.
Vietnamese citizens returning to Vietnam who have yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or get enough vaccine doses will receive the vaccine at no charge during their quarantine period.
In addition, those who have not been vaccinated or given complete doses were proposed to self-isolate at their residences for seven days and undergo Covid-19 tests on the first and seventh day after arrival. If they test negative, they will monitor their health for another week.
This draft anti-pandemic plan was expected to be issued this month before Vietnam reopens international air routes.
Immigrants younger than 18 or older than 65, pregnant women and those suffering from underlying illnesses must be quarantined with their parents or caretakers. The caretakers must be fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 and commit to voluntary quarantine with the immigrants.
According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam’s Covid vaccination rate has been high, with 96.4% of people aged 18 and older having received their first dose and 76.5% having received their second dose. Under the prime minister’s direction, the second Covid-19 vaccine dose for all residents aged 18 and older must be administered by the end of this month at the latest and the vaccination of children must be accelerated.
The Ministry of Health also stated that the Covid-19 vaccine passports of immigrants would be reviewed and recognized in line with the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As of October, Vietnam has recognized the vaccine passports of 72 countries and territories and is under negotiations to recognize the vaccine passports of many others.
