Quyết định 1246/QD-BYT

DECISION

INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR PAY-TO-STAY COVID-19 QUARANTINE AT HOTELS

MINISTER OF HEALTH

Pursuant to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2007;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 101/2010/ND-CP , which elaborates some Articles on quarantine, quarantine enforcement and epidemic control of the Law on Prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 75/2017/ND-CP dated June 20, 2017 defining functions, tasks, entitlements and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 173/QD-TTg dated February 01, 2020 on declaration of nCoV epidemic;

Pursuant to Decision no. 878/QD-BYT dated 12/3/2020 promulgating the "Guidance for Covid-19 quarantine at quarantine zones”;

At the request of Director of Health Environment Management Agency – the Ministry of Health,

DECIDES:

Article 1. The “Interim guidance on pay-to-stay Covid-19 quarantine at hotels” is promulgated together with this Decision.

Article 2. This Interim guidance applies to quarantine zones at hotels and resorts established by the People’s Committees of provinces or the Covid-19 Control Committee of provinces (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee”)

Article 3. This Decision comes into force from the day on which it is signed.

Article 4. Chief of the Ministry Office, the Ministerial Chief Inspector, Directors of Departments of the Ministry of Health; heads of public service providers affiliated to the Ministry of Health; Directors of Provincial Departments of Health; heads of health departments of other ministries and relevant units are responsible for implementation of this Decision./.

INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR PAY-TO-STAY COVID-19 QUARANTINE AT HOTEL

(Promulgated together with Decision No. 1246/QD-BYT dated March 20, 2020 of the Ministry of Health)

I. PURPOSES

Quarantine of people suspected of Covid-19 infection to prevent community transmission.

II. QUARANTINE METHOD

Quarantine at hotels or resorts ((hereinafter referred to as “hotels”)

III. QUARANTINED PEOPLE

1. Any person who is being quarantined at a free-of-charge quarantine facility (hereinafter referred to as “quarantine facility”) and wishes to pay for quarantine at a hotel in the same area.

2. Any person who has to be moved to a quarantine facility after they leave the border checkpoint area or airport and wishes to pay for quarantine at a hotel.

IV. REQUIREMENTS FOR HOTELS

- Only receive quarantined people to serve Covid-19 prevention and control; do not receive other kinds of guests.

- Provide all essential amenities: power and water supply, sanitation areas, bathrooms.

- Ensure ventilation.

- Ensure security and safety.

- Ensure fire safety.

- Ensure convenient movement and transport of quarantined people, logistics and waste transport.

- Provide television and internet access in every hotel room with quarantined people if possible.

V. QUARANTINE DURATION

The quarantine duration is 14 days from the date of entry of the last day on which a person has contact with a suspected case (including the period at the quarantine facility).

VI. PREPARING A HOTEL FOR QUARANTINE

1. Decision to convert a hotel into a pay-to-stay quarantine facility

On the basis of the application for use of a hotel for quarantine and fulfillment of the requirements specified in this document, the People’s Committee or the Covid-19 Control Committee of the province shall consider issuing a decision convert a hotel into a pay-to-stay quarantine facility.

2. Arrangement of areas serving quarantine at hotels

2.1. Guard posts

- Set up guard posts at the gates and entrances of the hotel. Every guard post shall be put on watch 24/24 by local police or militia; unauthorized persons shall not be allowed to enter the hotel.

- Put on a red sign with yellow text: (“Authorized personnel only”)

- Provide hand-washing stations with soap and clean water. Provide hand sanitizer if hand-washing stations are not available.

- Use foot-operated trash cans.

2.2. Vehicle disinfection

- Place a vehicle disinfection station neat the main gate of the hotel.

- All vehicles that are allowed to enter and leave the hotel shall be disinfected with 0,1% chlorine solution.

2.3. Areas inside the hotel

2.3.1 Quarantine area

a) The quarantine area should be:

- A separate area that can be easily observed and accessed.

- Separated from other areas of the hotel such as reception, areas for hotel staff and health workers, laundry, kitchen, dining room, etc.

- Convenient for cleaning and decontamination.

b) Containment of the quarantine area:

- Put on movable or fixed fences around the quarantine area.

- Put on a red sign with yellow text: “KHU VỰC DÀNH CHO NGƯỜI DƯỢC CÁCH LY - KHÔNG PHẬN SỰ MIỄN VÀO” (“Quarantine Area - Authorized personnel only”)

c) Entrance to the quarantine area:

- Set up only one entrance to the quarantine area with movable fences.

- Equipment at the quarantine area entrance:

+ A table to receive supplies from families of the quarantined people.

+ A hand-washing station with soap and clean water, or hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol if a hand-washing station is not available.

+ Yellow foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside to contain contaminated waste (protective clothing, medical masks, goggles, gloves, etc.) and the text  “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“Danger of SARS-CoV-2 infection”) outside.

+ Foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside for common wastes.

d) Reception area:

- Choose a convenient, spacious and airy area to receive quarantined people.

- Provide adequate tables and chairs for quarantined people.

- Set up a hand-washing station with soap and clean water, or hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol if a hand-washing station is not available.

- Provide yellow foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside and the text “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“Danger of SARS-CoV-2 infection”) on the outside.

dd) Quarantine rooms:

- It is best to provide a room for each person and up to 02 people are allowed in the same room if they are family and agree to share the room.

- The rooms shall be ventilated; windows (if any) should be kept open; avoid using air conditioners (keep the temperature above 26°C and increase ventilation when air conditioners are used).

- There shall be adequate clean water and soap or hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol in every quarantine room; equipment and disinfectants to clean surfaces; yellow bags to contain wastes and leftovers; laundry bags.

- Quarantine rules in Appendix 1 shall be put up in each room.

- Place a yellow foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside and the text  “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“Danger of SARS-CoV-2 infection”) outside in front of each room; a basket to place clean items and personal hygiene products (toothpaste, tooth brush, soap, toilet paper, etc.)

e) Prepare at least two backup rooms, one for examination and the other for quarantined people who have fever, cough or shortness of breath (where necessary).

g) Anteroom/antechamber for staff to put on personal protective equipment (PPE):

- The anteroom/antechamber shall be placed at the entrance to the quarantine area for staff to put on PPE before entering and remove PPE after leaving the quarantine area.

- The anteroom/antechamber shall have a cabinet to store PPE, hand sanitizer, chairs, yellow foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags to inside and the text  “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“Danger of SARS-CoV-2 infection”) outside; foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside for common wastes.

2.3.2. Areas for management board, hotel staff, health workers, the police and militia (hereinafter referred to as “management area):

The management area shall be separated from the quarantine area, convenient for movement and observation of the quarantine area, and have:

- Rooms for the management board and hotel staff to work and rest.

- Rooms for health workers, the local police and militia.

- Computers, printers, and stationery.

- Communication devices, internet access and wifi.

- Hand-washing stations with soap and clean water, or hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol if hand-washing stations are not available.

- Separate bathrooms for males and females with soap and common detergents.

- + Foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside for common wastes.

2.3.3. Kitchen for processing and packing food:

- The kitchen shall be separated from the quarantine area.

- Clean water supply is adequate.

- Food safety shall be maintained while processing and dispensing food.

- Use carts to deliver foods and drinks to quarantined people.

- Retain food samples as prescribed.

- Provide foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside for common wastes.

2.3.4. Staircases, elevators, reception hall shall have:

- Documents about COVID-19 prevention and control and hotel quarantine rules on the wall.

- Hand sanitizer.

- Yellow foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside and the text “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“Danger of SARS-CoV-2 infection”) on the outside.

- Foot-operated trash cans with plastic bags inside for common wastes.

-  Staircases, elevators, control panels, reception hall floor and corridor shall be cleaned and disinfected every day.

2.3.5. Supply reception area:

- Place a table at the guard post to receive supplies for quarantined people from their family.

- The sender shall register with the person in charge at the guard post, place the supplies on the table, provide the names, ages and phone numbers of the sender and the recipient.

- Hotel staff shall deliver the supplies to the quarantine area entrance and inform the recipient.

- Personal belongings of quarantined people must not be removed from the quarantine area before they are disinfected.

2.3.6. Temporary waste storage

- There shall be a separate area with roof, elevated floor for water drainage and a warning sign to temporarily store waste pending removal and treatment and:

- Yellow trash cans with lids, wheels, hard shell and the text “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“Danger of SARS-CoV-2 infection”) on the outside.

- Trash cans with lids, wheels and hard shell for common wastes.

- Hand-washing stations with soap and clean water.

- 0,05% chlorine solution to sterilize the trash cans after use.

VII. RECEPTION OF QUARANTINED PEOPLE

1. For people being quarantined at quarantine facilities

The quarantine facility shall:

a) Inform the quarantined people that they may register for hotel quarantine by submitting the form in Appendix 2.

b) Compile a list of quarantined people who register for hotel quarantine enclosed with their health records.

c) Transport these people from the quarantine facility to the hotel:

- The quarantine facility shall transport and complete procedures for transfer of the quarantined people to the hotel.

- Sterilize personal belongings of quarantined people before they leave the quarantine facility.

- Ensure safety during the transport; prevent cross infection; Avoid stopping and parking during the trip.

- Quarantined people shall wear facemasks, avoid talking and eating during the trip.

d) Ensure the adequate number of quarantined people being transferred to the hotel according to the list and their health records.

2. People who have to be moved to quarantine facilities after leaving a border checkpoint or airport

The border quarantine unit at the border checkpoint or airport shall:

a) Inform the quarantined people that they may register for hotel quarantine by submitting the form in Appendix 2.

b) Compile a list of quarantined people who register for hotel quarantine.

c) Transport these people from the airport or border checkpoint to the hotel assigned by the Committee:

- Sterilize personal belongings of quarantined people before they are transported to the hotel.

- Ensure safety during the transport; prevent cross infection; Avoid stopping and parking during the trip.

- Quarantined people shall wear facemasks, avoid talking and eating during the trip.

d) Ensure the adequate number of quarantined people being transferred to the hotel according to the list.

VIII. Quarantine organization

1. The People’s Committees of provinces shall:

a) Preside over the organization of hotel quarantine and assurance of resources for quarantine; assist quarantined people throughout the quarantine period.

b) Closely supervise the quarantine process; enforce quarantine of uncooperative people.

2. COVID-19 Control Committees of provinces shall:

a) Issue or authorize the hotels that are used for quarantine to issue decision on use of the hotel for pay-to-stay COVID-19 quarantine. After the quarantine process ends, issue or authorize the hotels to issue a decision on quarantine completion and certificates of completion of quarantine to quarantined people using the form in Appendix 1.

b) Issue or authorize issuance of decisions to establish hotel quarantine management boards. A representative of the People’s Committee of the district shall be the chief; the hotel manager shall be the deputy chief, members include representatives of the local health authority, police authority, militia, and relevant units in the hotel.

c) Request Department of Health to perform health tasks and provide guidance on hotel sterilization and decontamination.

d) Request the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to:

- Inform and instruct hotels to consider registering for pay-to-stay hotel quarantine in accordance with this document.

- Compile a list of hotels registered as pay-to-stay quarantine facilities and send it to the Committee.

- Cooperate with Department of Health in supervising the implementation of guidance.

e) Request local public hygiene services to daily transport and treat biomedical waste from the hotels.

f) Assign health workers, police officers and militia to work 24/24 at the hotel.

g) Assign a specialized agency to inspect food safety at the hotel.

h) Closely supervise the quarantine process; enforce quarantine of uncooperative people.

3. The quarantine facility shall: inform the quarantined people that they may register for hotel quarantine, transport and transfer quarantined people to the hotel at their request.

4. The hotel shall:

a) Register with the Committee for use of the hotel for quarantine.

b) Participate in the hotel quarantine management board; assign tasks to the hotel staff.

c) Comply with the regulations on arrangement of areas in the hotel to serve the quarantine process; Provide basic amenities, room service, food and drink, laundry, and sanitation for the quarantined people.

d) Provide training for employees who directly serve the quarantine process: reception, room service, cleaning and waste collection, catering, laundry, maintenance, etc. Do not assign employees who are pregnant or have a chronic disease (bronchial asthma, chronic pulmonary heart disease, renal failure, liver failure, heart failure, cancer, diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency, etc.) to work in the hotel during the quarantine.

e) Put up the hotel quarantine rules in the reception area and in every quarantine room.

f) Cooperate with the quarantine facility in making a list and admitting quarantined people to the hotel: people arriving on the same date/from the same country/in the same family shall stay in the same area.

g) Request quarantined people to sign the commitment to complete the quarantine and comply with the hotel rules.

h) Provide adequate facemasks for quarantined people until the end of the quarantine.

i) Deliver food to each quarantine room and only use disposables.

j) Ensure food safety in the hotel.

k) Do not hold parties or form groups within the hotel.

l) Encourage and assist quarantined people throughout the quarantine process.

m) Closely supervise the quarantine process directly or through camera surveillance. Request the local police or militia to enforce quarantine of uncooperative people. Do not allow unauthorized people to enter the hotel; do not allow quarantined people to leave the quarantine area.

m) Hold daily meetings with the hotel staff and attend meeting of the management board.

o) Publish the charges for hotel quarantine. Enable online registration and payment for hotel services.

p) Cooperate with Disease Control Center of the province, medical centers of the district and commune, and health authorities of other areas in monitoring health of quarantined people and responding to confirmed cases; provide training for the hotel staff on infection prevention, sterilization, and what to do when someone has a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.

q) Carry out sterilization and decontamination as instructed by health workers.

r) Cooperate with the local police and militia forces in setting up guard posts.

s) Provide adequate waste containers and collect wastes every day.

t) Compile a list of people that have completed the quarantine process, send it to the Committee, issue the certificate of quarantine completion to these people after it is approved by the Committee.

5. The Provincial Department of Health shall:

a) Request the Disease Control Center/Preventive Medicine Center of the province and medical centers of districts to provide training for hotel staff on setting up a quarantine facility, sterilize and decontaminate the hotel to protect hotel staff from infection, etc.

b) Request the Disease Control Center/Preventive Medicine Center of the province to classify travelers at border checkpoints and airports; arrange transport of people who wish to be quarantined at hotels.

c) Request medical centers of districts to assign health workers to assist hotels in medical tasks, sterilization and decontamination.

d) Supervise participation of health units in their provinces in performance of medical tasks at hotels.

6. Disease Control Centers/Preventive Medicine Centers of provinces shall:

a) Provide training for hotel staff on setting up the quarantine facility, sterilize and decontaminate the hotel, and protect hotel staff from infection.

b) Organize traveler classification at border checkpoints and airports, report to the Committee for arrangement of pay-to-stay hotel quarantine.

c) Supervise the hotel quarantine process.

7. The People’s Committees of districts and communes shall:

a) Assign chiefs of hotel quarantine management boards as requested by the Committee.

b) Request local police and militia forces to assist in hotel quarantine.

8. Medical centers of districts and communes shall:

Assign health workers to perform medical tasks, provide instructions and supervise the process of sterilization, decontamination and infection prevention at hotels.

9. Local police and militia forces shall:

a) Cooperate with hotel staff in setting up guard posts at the entrances to the hotel.

b) Assign officers on duty 24/24 at the guard posts; enforce quarantine where necessary.

10. Hotel staff:

a) All hotel staff shall be informed of the contents of this document; be trained in infection prevention and sterilization, what to do when someone has a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath, and participate in serving the hotel quarantine on a voluntary basis.

b) Hotel staff who has direct contact with quarantined people or work in the quarantine area shall:

- Use PPE as prescribed by the Ministry of Health (protective clothing, glass, cap, facemask, gloves, disposable shoe covers); put the used PPE in trash cans for biomedical wastes immediately after each shift.

- Not go home throughout the quarantine period.

c) Room service staff shall:

- Daily put clean cloth, personal hygiene products (if any) and toilet paper in a basket in front of each room at the time specified by the hotel.

- Daily (or whenever necessary) collect laundry and garbage in front of the quarantine rooms at the time specified by the hotel.

Tie up the laundry bags and garbage bags before moving. Maintain a safety distance of 2 meters between the quarantined people and hotel staff.

d) Laundry staff shall wear gloves and facemasks during work.

e) Promptly inform the health workers at the hotel when a quarantined person or hotel staff member has a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.

11. Health workers shall:

a) Cooperate in receiving quarantined people, their list and health records;

b) Monitor health status and take body temperature of quarantined people at least twice a day (in the morning and afternoon). Enter the results in the health records.

c) Follow instructions in Section X of this document when someone has a fever or a COVID-19 symptom.

d) Strictly comply with regulations of the Ministry of Health on infection prevention for health workers when having contact with quarantined people.

e) Provide instructions on sterilization, decontamination and protection of hotel staff from infection.

f) Supervise the hotel quarantine process.

g) Submit daily reports to the Disease Control Center/Preventive Medicine Center of the province.

12. Quarantined people shall:

a) Comply with the hotel quarantine rules and other rules of the hotel.

b) Practice personal hygiene; wear facemasks during communication; frequently wash hands with soap; Do not spit in public places.

c) Have body temperature taken at least twice a day (in the morning and afternoon) and monitor their own health on a daily basis.

d) Inform the receptionist or health worker when having any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath.

e) Avoid leaving the quarantine room; avoid direct contact with other people in the quarantine area.

f) Do not form groups to converse, eat, play in the rooms, corridor and yard within the quarantine area.

g) Drink enough water; do light exercise in the quarantine area while wearing facemasks and keeping a safety distance of 2 meters from other people.

h) Put garbage in garbage cans.

i) Pay for the stay and other services at the hotel when the quarantine ends.

IX. PROTECTION OF PEOPLE SERVING HOTEL QUARANTINE FROM INFECTION

1. Use PPE while working at the hotel. Wash hands with soap or sanitizer before and after entering and leaving the quarantine area.

2. Self-monitor health and report to health workers daily. When a symptom develops, wear facemasks, avoid contact with other people and inform a health worker at the hotel.

3. Health workers shall compile a list and daily monitor health of health workers and hotel staff who frequently work in the quarantine area.

X. RESPONSE TO CONFIRMED CASES AND SUSPECTED CASES  OF COVID-19 INFECTION IN THE HOTEL

1. Health workers at the hotel shall promptly inform the Disease Control Center/Preventive Medicine Center of the province and the local authority. Cooperate with the Disease Control Center/Preventive Medicine Center in epidemiological investigation of the case.

2. Cooperate in transport of the suspected case or confirmed case to a treatment facility assigned by the Committee.

3. The medical center of the district shall sterilize and decontaminate the room in which the suspected case or confirmed case stayed as instructed by the Ministry of Health. The room may only be used again after it is properly sterilized and decontaminated.

XI. ENDING QUARANTINE

After the quarantine ends, the hotel shall:

1) Submit a report to the Committee, local authority and the People’s Committee of the province, which will subsequently issue or authorize issuance of a decision to end the quarantine process at the hotel.

2) Sterilize and decontaminate the hotel as instructed by health authorities./.

APPENDIX 1

HOTEL QUARANTINE RULES

People in quarantine shall comply with the following rules:

1. Avoid leaving the quarantine room; avoid direct contact with other people in the quarantine area. Wear facemask and keep a safety distance of 2 meters from other people outside the quarantine room.

2. Do not leave the quarantine area and the hotel without permission.

3. Do not hold any event that involves many people in the quarantine area. Do not talk to other quarantined people in groups.

4. Wear facemasks when having direct contact with other people. Do not spit in public places.

5. Frequently wash hands with soap and clean water before eating, after using the restroom, after coughing and sneezing, whenever the hand is dirty, etc. Keep the room clean.

6. Put garbage in a plastic bag, tie it up and put it in the can in front of the room. It will be picked up daily at a fixed time.

7. Take clean cloth in front of the room at a fixed time. Put laundry (dirty clothes, bed sheet, pillow cover, etc.) in a plastic bag, tie it up and put it in front of the room.

7. Keep windows (if any) open most of the time to provide ventilation. Avoid using air conditioners (keep the temperature above 26°C and increase ventilation when air conditioners are used).

8. Self-monitor health and inform the receptionist or health worker when having any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or other symptoms.

9. Food will be provided according to the hotel plan at fixed times in the day. Orders from quarantined people will not be accepted, except for diets recommended by health workers.

10. Supplies will be delivered to quarantined people once a day at a fixed time.

Note: The hotel is entitled to reject people who do not comply with these rules.