Short-stay visitors not subject to quarantine: health ministry

Passengers from a flight from the US left the plane and boarded the shuttle bus. — VNA/VNS Photo

People staying in Việt Nam for less than 14 days for work purposes are not required to undergo quarantine, but need to fully adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures, according to the latest guidelines by the Ministry of Health.

Those eligible include people entering for diplomatic, official or business purposes; investors; experts; skilled workers and families; those cited in agreements; and those having contact with people staying in Việt Nam for a short time.

If they are plan to join activities in various localities, detailed travel plans are required, with approval by local authorities.

Visitors and people having contact with them are asked to comply with the 5K message – khẩu trang (face mask), khử khuẩn (disinfection), khoảng cách (distance), không tụ tập (no gathering), and khai báo y tế (health declaration) – set by the Health Ministry.

They must also maintain close observation of their own health conditions, and report symptoms like fever, coughing, breathing difficulties, or sore throats to local health authorities.

If they want to extend their stay in Việt Nam, they must follow current immigration and COVID-19 control regulations.

Where entrants have been fully vaccinated or are recovered COVID-19 patients, if their official work schedule is shorter than three days (from the day of entry), they must stay at their places of residence and avoid all contact or going outside until the end of the third day. A COVID-19 test (PCR) will be conducted on the third day. If the result is negative, they will need to observe their health for 14 days.

If their work schedule is longer than three days and a negative PCR COVID-19 result is obtained on the third day, they will only need to observe their health for 14 days.

For people who have not been fully vaccinated or only partially vaccinated, if the work schedule is less than seven days, they have to remain at their residence for seven days and have a PCR test on the third and seventh day.

If the work schedule is longer than seven days, and they have a negative COVID-19 test on the seventh day, they just need to observe their health conditions and report to local authorities if suspectef symptoms develop.

Host units and organisations are responsible for making the list of expected arrivals if entering for other purposes, and must cover medical bills if there are related COVID-19 cases.

Previously, the health ministry released guidance for arrivals in Việt Nam, stating that those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or recovered COVID-19 patients only needed to self-quarantine at places of residence for three days. — VNS