HCMC – From January 1, 2022, fully vaccinated people and those who have recovered from Covid-19 entering Vietnam will only need to self-quarantine at home for three days instead of staying at centralized quarantine centers for seven days.
The new regulations were announced by the Ministry of Health on December 16 and do not apply to those entering Vietnam for short-term work and other entry cases as prescribed by the national steering committee for Covid infection prevention and control and the Ministry of Health or through a bilateral cooperation agreement.
According to the new regulations, people who test negative for Covid before entry, except for children under two years of age, are required to make medical declarations before entry.
People entering Vietnam must install and use the medical declaration application (PC-COVID) and monitor their health according to Vietnam’s regulations.
In case the person entering is a Vietnamese citizen, overseas Vietnamese and relatives, including spouses and children, who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of the Covid vaccine, vaccination will be done free of charge during the quarantine period.
Delegations entering Vietnam on the invitation of senior leaders will follow the relevant protocol to welcome the delegation.
Those arriving will pay for testing costs, medical isolation, examination and treatment costs and other related expenses, if any, on the prevention and control of the Covid pandemic as prescribed in the Government’s Resolution No. 16 dated February 8, 2021.
People entering the country who have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid will self-monitor their health at their place of residence, including houses, hotels, motels, resorts, headquarters of the representative agency, dormitories, guest houses of production and business establishments on the first three days from the date of entry. They are not allowed to come into contact with people around or leave the accommodation.
A Covid test by the RT-PCR method will be done on the third day from the date of entry. If the test result is negative for Covid, people entering will continue to monitor their health until the end of the 14-day period from the date of entry. In case the test result is positive, it will be handled according to regulations.
Those entering the country that have not been vaccinated or have not received both doses of the Covid vaccine will isolate at their place of residence for seven days from the date of entry and be tested for Covid by the RT-PCR method on the third and seventh days.
People entering the country under 18 years of age, persons aged 65 years or older, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions will isolate themselves with their caregivers.
The caregivers should be fully vaccinated or should have recovered from Covid and must sign a commitment to voluntarily self-isolate after being told about the risks of Covid infection.
Besides, they must strictly comply with the requirements on testing and regulations on Covid prevention and control like those on entry.
Regarding requirements on transporting people from the border gate of entry to their place of residence, they must strictly comply with Covid infection prevention and control measures while being transported.
Drivers of vehicles transporting people on entry should limit stopping and parking along the route. In special or emergency cases where vehicles must be parked along the road, safety measures must be taken to prevent and control the Covid pandemic.
Regarding requirements during health monitoring, people must always comply with 5K regulations (wear masks, make medical declarations, disinfect hands regularly, not go to crowded places and not gather). In case there are signs of a cough, fever, shortness of breath or sore throat, they must immediately notify the local health department so it can be handled according to regulations.
Self rapid testing for Covid should be done on the first day from the date of entry. If the result is positive, it must be reported to the local health department to be handled according to regulations.
The examination and recognition of the Certificate of Covid Immunization and the Certificate of having recovered from Covid abroad (or the vaccine passport) shall comply with the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The examination and recognition of the Certificate of Covid Immunization and the Certificate of Covid Cure in Vietnam shall comply with the guidance of the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health requests provinces and cities, ministries and departments to direct units under their management to ensure medical isolation is strictly supervised so as not to cross-infect and spread the disease to the community.
