Công văn 4686/UBND-KGVX

Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in the Notice No. 313/TB-VPCP dated August 29, 2020 of the Government's Office at the meeting of the Standing Board of Government on prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic; Official Dispatch No. 4674/BYT-MT dated August 31, 2020 of the Ministry of Health on health guidance on COVID-19 prevention and control to foreigners entering Vietnam on business trips of less than 14 days (appended), the People's Committee of Hanoi City requests the relevant units to follow the mentioned health guidance of the Ministry of Health, with attention to the following:

I. Regulated entities

Foreigners entering Vietnam for short-term business trips, including:

- Investors, experts, high-skilled workers, business managers and relatives thereof, and other entities as agreed with every country (hereinafter referred to as experts).

- Those entering Vietnam for diplomatic missions or official duties.

II. Implementation

1. Before entry

a) Require the organization that invites the experts to do the following:

- Submit an application for approval to the list of experts to work in Hanoi City to the Department of Health. The application must have at least the following: (1) Full name of entrant, (2) Nationality, (3) Title, occupation, (4) Purpose of entry, (5) The intended date of entry, (6) Quarantine place (certified by the quarantine facility), (7) Working plan: Clarifying intended time and places for working, meeting, on-site visit, the list of people working with the expert, (8) epidemic prevention and control measures to be taken at the meeting, working place and the site (if needed).

- Request each expert to prepare a certificate confirming negative SARS-CoV-2 result using RT-PCR method, performed by a laboratory accredited by a competent health facility, issued within 3 - 5 days before the entry.

b) The Department of Health shall, within 3 days after receiving a duly complete application, consider approving the entry of the experts on business trips of less than 14 days as prescribed in Official Dispatch No. 2205/UB-KGVX dated June 4, 2020 of the People’s Committee of Hanoi City on receipt and quarantine of foreign experts and actions to be taken for epidemic prevention and control.

2. Upon entry at Noi Bai International Airport

Delegate the Department of Health to direct Hanoi's Center for Disease Control to cooperate with Northern Airport Authority and Noi Bai International Airport and relevant units in:

a) Checking the certificate confirming negative SARS-CoV-2 result.

b) Taking body temperature and medical examination to detect suspected cases. In case of any suspected case, take the measures as prescribed Guide the experts to make electronic medical declaration, install and use tracking applications.

c) Dividing flows of movement and transferring the experts to the management board of the quarantine facility to receive and deliver to the quarantine area in accordance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control as provided for in Decision No. 1246/QD-BYT dated March 20, 2020 of the Ministry of Health.

3. At the centralized quarantine facility (hotel, accommodation)

Delegate the People’s Committee of district where the centralized quarantine facility accredited by the People’s Committee of city is located, to direct the management board of the centralized quarantine facility to:

a) Carry out the quarantine practice:

- Receive and quarantine the experts in accordance with the Decision No. 1246/QD-BYT dated March 20, 2020 of the Ministry of Health.

- Arrange a separate quarantine place for the experts, not in contact with the community, under close monitoring of the health facility.

- Arrange the room/area for taking samples of SARS-CoV-2 separately. If it is impossible to arrange a room/area for taking samples separately, it may done at the break room with prevention and control measures taken.

- Take samples and perform SARS-COV-2 tests for every expert coming to the centralized quarantine facility using RT-PCR method. In case of negative result, the expert may be authorized to work in the district In case of positive result, the expert must be isolated and treated as per regulations. Take samples and perform the test for the Covid-19 confirmed expert every 2 days using RT-PCR method while he/she has stayed in Vietnam in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Health and charge the corresponding fee as prescribed.

b) At a meeting or signing ceremony with the expert:

- Arrange a separate place (meeting room, conference room) which is well ventilated, clean, and disinfected in accordance with Decisions No. 878/QD-BYT dated March 12, 2020, No. 1246/QD-BYT dated March 20, 2020 and guidelines in the Appendix enclosed with Official Dispatch No. 4674/BYT-MT dated August 31, 2020 of the Ministry of Health; arrange separate seats for the experts, delegates (with given desk name plates) by every country, keep the distance of at least 01 m.

- Prepare a back-up meeting room or conference room in case the original once is isolated for epidemic prevention and control purpose; a video conference room is better recommended.

- There is a separate working area for the health workers on duty to serve the meeting or signing ceremony.

- Arrange an isolation room (meeting requirements of the Ministry of Health) for any delegate having fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath during the meeting or signing ceremony.

- Give notices and guidelines of COVID-19 prevention and control, written in suitable languages, to the delegates; and place them at visible places (entrances, meeting rooms, etc.),

- Check delegates’ temperature , have them sanitize hands and wear masks before attending the meeting or signing ceremony.

- Send a list of attendees of the meeting or signing ceremony and relevant entities (full name, date of birth, nationality, working place, place of residence, phone number, and email) to the health center of the district.

- Limit breaks and gatherings amid the meeting or ceremony; encourage the delegates to take a break at their seats, place food and beverages at their seats prior to the beginning of meeting or signing ceremony.

- Disinfect the meeting or signing ceremony place in accordance with the Appendix of Official Dispatch No. 4674/BYT-MT dated August 31, 2020 of the Ministry of Health.

- Do not engage service staff in the meeting or signing ceremony if they have fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.

c) After the meeting or signing ceremony:

- Every delegate and service staff in the meeting or signing ceremony must keep monitoring their health thereafter; if anyone is confirmed to have COVID-19 within 14 days after the meeting or signing ceremony date, he/she must notify the local authority and health facility for further notification to those in contact with that expert for epidemic prevention and control as prescribed.

4. On-site visit (if needed)

The management board of the centralized quarantine facility shall cooperate with the organization that invites the experts to:

- Arrange vehicles to transport the experts with required practices (wearing masks, sanitizing hands before and after getting on and off the vehicle, disinfecting and cleaning the vehicle) in relevant regulations and Appendix appended to Official Dispatch No. 4674/BYT-MT dated August 31, 2020 of the Ministry of Health.

- Limit people who meet and contact with the experts at the working place or on site, have them wear masks during the working time, and regularly wash hands with sanitizers.

- Engage health workers to support and monitor the experts at the working place or on site.

- Upon completion of the on-site visit, the working place and the site must be disinfected in accordance with the Appendix appended to Official Dispatch No. 4674/BYT-MT dated August 31, 2020 of the Ministry of Health.

- Make a list of participants in the on-site visit for further monitoring.

5. End of quarantine

The expert shall take a test using RT-PCR method 1 day before his length of stay in Vietnam ends; if the expert tests positive, he/she shall be referred to the hospital and those who have been in contact with him/her shall be isolated as prescribed; if the expert tests negative, he/she may exit Vietnam as planned.

The management board of the centralized quarantine facility shall arrange a vehicle to transport the expert to the airport as prescribed.

6. Quarantine cost: The quarantine cost shall be covered as per applicable regulation.

III. Assignments

1. Department of Health

- Cooperate with the Department of Tourism and relevant units in checking hotels that meet the requirements for centralized quarantine for experts entering Vietnam less than 14 days and then seeking approval from the People’s Committee of Hanoi City.

- Cooperate with the Departments of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and Foreign Affairs (if necessary) in receiving applications and approving the lists of foreigners entering Vietnam for business trips of less than 14 days.- Direct Hanoi’s Center for Disease Control, health centers of districts to provide guidelines and monitor the entrants of less than 14 days in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Health and the People’s Committee of City.

- Cooperate with Departments and agencies and the People’s Committee of districts in inspecting the quarantine, working, signing ceremony, on-site visits of experts on business trips of less than 14 days as prescribed.

2. Department of Tourism

- Take charge and cooperate with the Department of Health in reviewing and advising the People’s Committee to approve qualified hotels for quarantine of experts entering Vietnam for less than 14 days.

- Direct the accommodation establishments, hotels to strictly implement the regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control of the Ministry of Health and City and relevant provisions in this document.

3. Police of Hanoi City

Take charge and cooperate with the Department of Health, Tourism and relevant units in ensuring security and order, supervising the practices of COVID-19 prevention and control whilst the experts have stayed, worked and undertaken on-site visits as per the approved plan.

4. Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs

Cooperate with the Department of Health in determining experts entering Vietnam as per the Official Dispatch No. 2205/UB-KGVX dated June 4, 2020 of the People's Committee of Hanoi City.

5. The People Committee’s of districts

Direct and inspect the compliance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control at centralized quarantine facilities and working places of experts in districts; ensure the experts and those in contact with them are adequately secured, prevent the cross infection and community infection.

The People’s Committee of Hanoi City requests the Departments of Health, Tourism, Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Police of City, the People Committee’s of districts and relevant entities shall strictly implement this Official Dispatch; and send reports to the People’s Committee of Hanoi City and the Ministry of Health (via Department of Health) as required./.