Hướng dẫn 3862/HD-BVHTTDL

INTERIM GUIDANCE

ON IMPLMENTATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 128/NQ-CP DATED OCTOBER 11, 2021 OF THE GOVERNMENT ON PROMULGATION OF INTERIM REGULATIONS ON “SAFE AND FLEXIBLE ADAPTION TO AND EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF COVID-19” IN CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM ACTIVITIES

To implement Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021 of the Government on promulgation of Interim regulations on “Safe and flexible adaption to and effective control of COVID-19”, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgates an Interim guidance on safe and flexible adaption to and effective control of COVID-19 in culture, sports and tourism activities as follows:

A. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZING CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM ACTIVITIES

I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Prepare activity planning and pandemic control plans based on each Covid-risk level, take responsibility for rolling out COVID-19 safety measures as prescribed.

2. Generate QR codes at quarantine points to check people in and out on premises and fill in health declarations as per the Decision No. 2666/QD-BYT dated May 29, 2021 of the Minister of Health.

3. Monitor the health of event staff and service staff on a daily basis; keep people with one of the following symptoms stay off work: fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, etc. and those who are F1, F2 individuals; require event staff and service staff to check their body temperature and monitor their health at home before coming to the workplace, stay home if they develop symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, etc. and report to authorities and local health authorities for further consultation and factions as prescribed.

4. At entrances of event and service venues: check body temperature, require staff and attendees to make health declarations, disinfect hands, wear masks and keep physical distance as required; place Covid safety signs; have adequate hand sanitizer in place; display distance floor markers at entrances as prescribed; control the check-in and check-out flows; have safeguards in place to control the density of check-in people in conformity with the Covid safety protocols. Require all event staff to follow the “5K Message” rule.

5. Prepare temporary isolation room/area (hereinafter referred to as isolation room) for planning staff/attendees who develop symptoms of fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, etc. and those who are F0, F1, or F2 individuals while they are working to stay. The isolation area must meet the requirements of the Ministry of Health.

6. Have enough garbage bins with lids in place; have enough hand washing areas, toilets, clean water and soap or hand sanitizer in place.

7. Disseminate, remind, inspect and supervise if the event staff complies with Covid safety measures and monitor their health.

8. Cooperate with local health authorities upon requests.

9. Requirements for attendees: Follow “5K Message” rule, comply with regulations of law on Covid safety measures, regulations of local administrations, health authorities and the Organizing Board; use applications to fill in health declarations as prescribed.

10. In case the Government and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Health issue new regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control for the regulated entities in this Interim Guidance, the new regulations shall prevail.

II. REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES BASED ON COVID-RISK LEVELS

1. The Covid-risk levels are determined as prescribed in Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021 of the Government and Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT dated October 12, 2021 of the Minister of Health.

2. In a Covid-risk level-1 area (hereinafter referred to as level-1 area), the culture, sports and tourisms activities shall be held in accordance with Clause 1, Section I, Part A of this Guidance.

B. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH COVID-RISK LEVEL

I. CULTURE SECTOR

1. Culture activities for political purposes; exhibitions; celebration of anniversaries, founding days, traditional days, international days

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Reduce the scale, level, change the organizing method according to the pandemic developments and local regulations.

- Reduce 30% of number of delegates and guests according to the approved plan.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Reduce the scale and level, change the organizing method according to the pandemic developments and local regulations.

- Reduce 50% of number of delegates and guests according to the approved plan. Reduce guests who come from other localities.

- Strengthen propagation about the purposes and meaning of anniversaries, traditional days, founding days, international days on the mass media.

c) As for level-4 areas:

Halt organizing the activities. propagation about the purposes and meaning of anniversaries, traditional days, founding days, international days on the mass media, websites, publications.

2. Festivals

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Reduce the scale, change the organizing method and time of the festival; reduce festival activities in conformity with the Covid safety protocols based on the pandemic developments and local regulations.

- Reduce 50% of number of delegates and guests according to the approved plan.

- Step up the propagation and introduction about the origin of the festival, relics and figures who have been worshiped and honored; the true values and meanings of traditional beliefs and rituals.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Only hold rituals, do not hold festival activities.

- Do not invite guests to attend the rituals.

c) As for level-4 areas: Halt festivals.

3. Operation of libraries; cinemas; venues for cultural and artistic performances

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Reduce 50% of guests, audiences and readers to be served.

- Implement periodic disinfection measures according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

- There is a board of rules that guides the COVID-19 safety protocols.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Reduce 70% of guests, audiences and readers to be served.

- Implement periodic disinfection measures according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

- There is a board of rules to guide the COVID-19 safety protocols.

c) As for level-4 areas: Halt organizing activities.

4. Operation of monuments and museums

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Only welcome and serve visiting groups of up to 20 people/group; maintain physical distance, fully comply with COVID-19 safety protocols.

- Implement periodic disinfection measures according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

- There is a board of rules to guide the COVID-19 safety protocols.

- The tour guide or narrator has to have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine for 14 days or more or has recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 according to regulations of the Department of Health.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Only welcome and serve visiting groups of up to 10 people/group; maintain physical distance, fully comply with COVID-19 safety protocols.

- Implement periodic disinfection measures according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

- There is a board of rules to guide the COVID-19 safety protocols.

- The tour guide or narrator has to have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine for 14 days or more or has recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 according to regulations of the Department of Health.

c) As for level-4 areas: Halt organizing activities.

II. SPORTS

1. Physical activities and sports:

1.1. Outdoor physical activities and sports

Participants in outdoor physical activities and sports have to maintain a minimum distance of 2m. Participants have to take initiative in cleaning and disinfect surfaces of fitness and sports equipment.

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Limit outdoor physical activities in large groups. In case of group exercise, no more than 50 people per group is allowed; maintain physical distance, keep a minimum density of 4m2 per person; adhere to single-direction rule in group exercise.

- The instructor or person in charge of organizing outdoor physical activities and sports has to have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine for 14 days or more or has recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 according to regulations of the Department of Health.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Minimize the exercise in large groups. In case of group exercise, no more than 20 people per group is allowed; maintain physical distance, keep a minimum density of 6m2 per person; adhere to single-direction rule in group exercise.

- The instructor or person in charge of organizing outdoor physical activities and sports has to have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine for 14 days or more or has recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 according to regulations of the Department of Health.

c) As for level-4 areas: Halt outdoor physical activities and sports in public areas.

2.2. Indoor physical activities and sports

The participant in indoor physical activities and sports has to have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine for 14 days or more or has recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 according to regulations of the Department of Health.

Facilities and enterprises that provide indoor physical activities and sports shall develop a Covid safety plan and an action plan in place to deal with COVID-19 cases as prescribed; scan QR codes, collect information about participants and service users (via QR codes or health declarations in person or online) daily; have enough hand sanitizer and soap in place at workout areas and competition areas. Gyms must ensure good ventilation, natural ventilation is recommended; there are boards of rules and guides for trainees to follow COVID-19 safety protocols under direction of the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee and regulations of the Ministry of Health.

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Reduce the size of the gym (up to 70% of maximum capacity); the service provider must clean and disinfect equipment and facilities daily.

- The trainers and participants in physical activities and sports have to have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine for 14 days or more or have recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 according to regulations of the Department of Health.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Reduce number of gymers (up to 30% of the gym capacity). For gyms with a closed design and poor ventilation that poses a threat to spread the disease, they may be ordered to halt the operation.

- The trainers and participants in physical activities and sports have to have full 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine or more or have recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 according to regulations of the Department of Health.

- The service provider shall disinfect the facilities weekly; clean and sanitize equipment daily.

c) As for level-4 areas: Halt operation of providers of indoor physical activities and sports.

2. Competition

The tournament organizing committee or the sports tournament organizer shall develop a Covid safety plan and submit it to the competent authority for approval within 15 days before the opening date (including inspection, Covid testing, safeguards for competitors and spectators; and a plan for cooperation with health authorities upon new Covid cases; disinfect and clean equipment and devices).

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Reduce the scale and adjust the organizing method to meet the requirements for pandemic prevention and control in each locality.

- Limit the number of spectators; maintain up to 50% of the stand capacity.

- Competitors, tournament-organizing staff, spectators from level-3 areas have to have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine for 14 days or more or have recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 within 72 hours before the opening of the tournament.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Limit the organization of large-scale sports tournaments; only organize provincial sports tournaments with limited scale; mass sports tournaments with a large number of competitors can only be held outdoors in open spaces.

- Athletes, competitors, tournament organizing staff, spectators have to have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine for 14 days or more or have recovered from COVID-19 within 6 months, has a negative test certificate for COVID-19 within 72 hours before the opening of the tournament.

- As for sports tournaments with a large number of spectators such as football matches, the maximum capacity of the stands should be maintained at 30%.  The form of competition without spectators can apply where necessary.

c) As for level-4 areas: Halt holding sports tournaments.

3. Training athletes

3.1. Athletes, coaches, professional staff, service staff who have received 2 doses of vaccine shall:

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Monitor health within 7 days from the date of arrival at the training facility.

- Limit leaving the training facility during training.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Monitor health within 14 days from the date of arrival at the training facility.

- Limit leaving the training facility during training.

c) As for level-4 areas:

- Quarantine at centralized facilities in 7 days; monitor health within 7 days from the date of arrival at the training facility.

- Obtain a negative test certificate for COVID-19 using RT-PCR test within 72 hours before the arrival at the training facility.

- Refrain from leaving the training facility during training.

3.2. Athletes, coaches, professional staff, service staff who have not received 2 doses of vaccine shall:

a) As for level-2 areas:

- Monitor health within 7 days from the date of arrival to the training facility.

- Obtain a negative test certificate for COVID-19 using RT-PCR test within 72 hours before the arrival at the training facility.

- Limit leaving the training facility during training.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Monitor health within 14 days from the date of arrival to the training facility.

- Obtain a negative test certificate for COVID-19 using RT-PCR test within 72 hours before the arrival at the training facility.

- Refrain from leaving the training facility during training.

c) As for level-4 areas:

- Quarantine at centralized facilities in 7 days; monitor health in 7 subsequent days (from the date of arrival to the training facility).

- Obtain a negative test certificate for COVID-19 using RT-PCR test within 72 hours before the arrival at the training facility.

- Obtain a negative test certificate for COVID-19 using RT-PCR test within 72 hours before the arrival at the training facility.

- Refrain from leaving the training facility during training.

III. TOURISM

1. Regulated entities

1.1. Travel businesses, tourist transport businesses, organizations/individuals that manage tourist sites, tourist attractions, tourist accommodation establishments, tourist service businesses (hereinafter referred to as tourist business establishments); employees who work for tourist businesses.

1.2. Tourists, service users in tourist business establishments, people who come to contact, work, supply materials, goods, and services for tourist business establishments.

2. Medical tests

2.1. Test any person who develops symptoms such as a fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, shortness of breath, etc. ; The test shall be performed randomly and periodically by the health authorities;

2.2. With every level of risks, only test a person in one of the following circumstances:

- It is suspected that he/she comes from or he/she involves an epidemic investigation from a level-3 area;

- He/she comes from a level-4 area or medical isolation area (lockdown); do not test a tourist who is a resident in the area.

2.3. A fully vaccinated person or a recovered Covid-19 person is only ordered to be tested if:

- There is a request for epidemic investigation;

- He/she comes from a level-4 area or an area with medical isolation (lockdown).

2.4. The test for COVID-19 will be carried out using RT-PCR or rapid antigen test and be valid for 72 hours (from the time the result is received).

3. Requirements for tourist business establishments

3.1. General requirements

a) As for level-1 and level-2 areas:

- Tourism activities are organized at 100% capacity.

b) As for level-3 areas:

- Only organize sightseeing activities at tourist sites, attractions, indoor gathering events and group tours with less than 25 people;

- Tourist accommodation establishments, food and drink services in tourist business establishments may operate at no more than 50% of their capacity at a time; means of transport for passengers do not operate with more than 50% of the seats; services with high risk of infection such as discos, karaoke, massage, bars, internet, video games, hairdressing, beauty and other services shall comply with regulations of the People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities;

- Tourist accommodation establishments that receive quarantined tourists at the request of competent authorities must fully comply with the pandemic prevention and control requirements of local health authorities;

- Tourist accommodation establishments that are serving tourists with over 50% capacity may not welcome new tourists.

c) As for level-4 areas:

- Halt sightseeing activities at tourist sites, attractions; halt indoor gathering events and group tour programs with less than 20 people; halt tours in the area, tours from and to this area;

- Tourist accommodation establishments, food and drink services in tourist business establishments may operate at no more than 30% of their capacity at a time; means of transport for passengers do not operate with more than 50% of the seats; services with high risk of infection such as discos, karaoke, massage, bars, internet, video games, hairdressing, beauty and other services shall comply with regulations of the People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities;

- Tourist accommodation establishments that receive quarantined tourists at the request of competent authorities must fully comply with the pandemic prevention and control requirements of local health authorities;

- Tourist accommodation establishments that are serving tourists with over 30% capacity may not welcome new tourists.

3.2. Specific requirements

a) Develop a plan for COVID-19 prevention and control and an action plan for any case of COVID-19 as per regulations; Assign leaders to be in charge of COVID-19 prevention and control. Keep health records, take body temperature of employees before entering work.  Test employees with symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath for SARS-CoV-2 or let them stay home and monitor health at home.

b) Arrange the reception area, entrances and aisles with the required physical distance according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.  Place QR codes and Covid safety board at the reception area, on tourists vehicles, service places, and in the bedrooms of the tourist accommodation establishment.

c) Check body temperature of tourists who come to use the services, people who come to contact, work, supply materials, goods and services in level-3 and level-4 areas; provide masks for tourists when needed.

d) Arrange hand wash basins with clean water, soap, dry hand wipes or provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer at the reception, service areas, elevators, rooms, divisions, and dressing rooms for employees in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

dd) Regularly clean and disinfect public areas, crowded service areas, means of transports, tourist accommodation establishments, equipment and devices for tourists under guidelines of health authorities.

e) Laundry in tourist business establishments and tourists’ clothes are collected and transferred to the laundry area according to the instructions and recommendations of the health authorities.

g) Set up and announce hotlines for communication and support to tourists. Immediately report any person showing signs of COVID-19 to the local health authority.

h) The tourist business establishment shall register and self-assess COVID-19 safety daily at http://safe.tourism.com.vn to connect to the national COVID safety system.

i) Employees are guided with Covid safety protocols; comply with the “5K Message” in the workplace; have medical tests as prescribed in Clause 2, Section III of this Guidance.

4. Requirements for tourists, guests using tourism services and people coming to contact and work with tourist business establishments

4.1. Comply with “5K message”; make health declarations using QR codes.

4.2. Fully comply with the regulations of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, the Ministry of Health and the rules of tourist business establishments.

4.3. Comply with requirements for medical tests as prescribed in Clause 2, Section III, Part B of this Guidance.

C. IMPLEMENTATION

1. The People's Committees of the provinces and central-affiliated cities shall direct the departments, agencies, branches and localities to coordinate in implementation of this Guidance.

2. Affiliated entities of Ministry

2.1. Departments of Culture at grassroots

- Take charge and cooperate with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, General Department of Physical Training and Sports in implementing and sending consolidated reports to the Ministry's leaders on the implementation results this Guidance.

2.2. Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and General Department of Physical Training and Sports

- Publish information on the media of the Administration/General Department;

- Initiate, expedite and inspect the implementation of this Guidance;

- Cooperate with local governments in evaluating implementation results; report to the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on a monthly basis or when the pandemic progresses more complex.

2.3. Information Technology Center, Culture Newspaper, National Electronic Newspaper

Publish this Guidance and information on COVID-19 prevention and control in culture, sports and tourism activities.

3. Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Department of Culture and Sports, Department of Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism, Department of Tourism:

- Guide the organization of culture, sports and tourism activities in the area to follow COVID-19 safety measures as above; carry out inspection according to regulations;

- Publish this Guidance and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control in culture, sports and tourism activities on the Department's media;

- Regularly check and urge the implementation; send reports monthly or upon request to competent authorities;

4. Federations, associations, organizations and individuals shall promptly report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism when difficulties arise during the implementation of this Guidance for further amendments./.