People from HCM City must undergo home-quarantine for seven days: MoH

A tube containing sample collected for COVID-19 testing in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) has requested provincial-level localities nationwide to impose home quarantine on people coming or returning from Ho Chi Minh City for seven days and conduct COVID-19 testing for them thrice, given the complex and unpredictable developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the southern largest city.

This is part of an urgent dispatch the MoH sent to the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities on July 7 in the face of the coronavirus resurgence in HCM City and nearby localities.

The ministry demanded provinces and cities to take more drastic and stronger actions soon to contain and bring the outbreak under control.

The People’s Committee of HCM City was asked to discuss with its counterparts in other localities before sending people from this city to other provinces and cities. They also need to reach consensus on the arrangement of transport vehicles, which must satisfy anti-COVID-19 regulations.

The MoH told provincial-level administrations to consider all people coming or returning from HCM City, except for those from other localities who go through but do not stop in HCM City, as those having close contact with persons directly meeting confirmed COVID-19 patients.

These people have to undergo home quarantine for seven days, starting from the day they arrive in their localities, and continue self-monitoring their health in the seven following days. They must also get tested for COVID-19 thrice, on the first, third, and sixth days of the home quarantine period.

Persons from HCM City were asked to minimise contact with other people and not take part in mass gatherings. Any showing symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss of taste must immediately report to their nearest healthcare establishments to receive guidance, according to the MoH.

Meanwhile, drivers of vehicles transporting goods from and to HCM City also have to comply with pandemic prevention and control rules set by the MoH./.