DECISION

PROMULGATION OF THE “GUIDANCE ON COVID-19 QUARANTINE AT QUARANTINE FACILITIES”

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

Pursuant to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases dated November 21, 2007;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 101/2010/ND-CP dated September 30, 2010 elaborating some Articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases on quarantine, forced quarantine and anti-epidemic measures during epidemics;

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;

At the request of Director of General Department of Preventive Medicine - the Ministry of Health,

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Article 1. The “Guidance on Covid-19 quarantine at quarantine facilities” is promulgated together with this Decision.

Article 2. The “Guidance on Covid-19 quarantine at quarantine facilities” shall be applied at quarantine facilities established by the People’s Committees of provinces, Provincial Steering Committees for Covid-19 Control or competent military or police authorities.

Article 3. This Decision comes into force from the day on which it is signed and replaces Decision No. 344/QD-BYT dated February 07, 2020 of the Minister of Health.

Article 4. Chief of the Ministry Office, the Ministerial Chief Inspector, Directors of Departments of the Ministry of Health, Directors of Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Pasteur Institutes; heads of health departments of other ministries and relevant units are responsible for implementation of this Decision.

PP MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER




Do Xuan Tuyen

GUIDANCE

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I. Purposes

Quarantine people at risk of Covid-19 infection to prevent community transmission of the disease.

II. Quarantine method

Quarantine at quarantine facilities in accordance with the 2007’s Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

III. Quarantine subjects

- People who return from or go through affected areas of affected countries/territories (according to information of the Ministry of Health);

- Close contacts of confirmed cases beyond the capacity of health facilities;

- Other subjects specified by the Prime Minister or National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Control (hereinafter referred to as “National Steering Committee”. The Ministry of Health will have further instructions as the pandemic develops

IV. Locations where quarantine facilities can be established

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- Dormitories;

- Lodging areas of factories;

- New apartment buildings that have not been brought into operation;

- Hotels, motels, guest houses, resorts, etc.

- Schools;

- Commune-level health facilities;

- Other areas that can be utilized as health facilities.

V. Quarantine facility requirements

A quarantine shall:

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- Be well ventilated.

- Ensure and security.

- Ensure fire safety.

- Be separated from residential areas by distance or fences.

- Be convenient for travel, transport of quarantine subjects, logistics and collection of wastes.

- Have TV and Internet connection in each quarantine room if possible.

VI. Quarantine period

14 days from the last day of contact with a probable source of infection.

VII. Establishment of quarantine facilities

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2. Organization of a quarantine facility

2.1. Guard posts

- Guard posts shall be located at the gate and entrances of the quarantine facility.

- Each guard post shall have a washing station with clean water and soap, or hand sanitizer if hand washing station is not available.

- A guard post shall be manned 24/24 daily; unauthorized persons must not be allowed to enter the quarantine facility.

- Put up a sign with red background and yellow text “CƠ SỞ CÁCH LY TẬP TRUNG - KHÔNG NHIỆM VỤ MIỄN VÀO” (“QUARANTINE FACILITY – UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT”)

- Guard posts shall be manned by police, military, militia or health personnel.

- Foot-operated trash bins.

2.2. Disinfecting vehicles

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

2.3. Organization of various areas in the quarantine facility

a) Quarantine sector

- Location:

+ It is best to choose an isolated and downwind area which is easy to observe and access.

+The quarantine sector must be far from other sectors and residential areas.

- Containment of the quarantine sector:

+ Put up temporary or permanent fences around the quarantine sector, whichever is available.

+ Put up a sign with red background and yellow text “KHU VỰC DÀNH CHO NGƯỜI DƯỢC CÁCH LY - KHÔNG PHẬN SỰ MIỄN VÀO” (“QUARANTINE SECTOR – AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY”)

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+ Set up an entrance to the quarantine sector with portable fences.

+ The following items shall be placed at the entrance to the quarantine sector:

• A foot-operated trash bin with plastic bags and the label “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“DANGER OF SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION”).

• A foot-operated trash bin with plastic bags for domestic wastes.

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

- Reception area:

- Quarantine rooms:

+ The rooms must be airy with all windows opened. Do not use air conditioners.

+ All beds shall be at a distance of 1 m from each other or separated with white plastic curtains.

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+ In each room there shall be a broom, cleaning cloths, 02 buckets and disinfectant or common detergent for quarantine subjects to clean their rooms.

+ There is a quarantine rules sign.

- Isolation rooms in the quarantine sector:

+ There shall be one or two isolation rooms for people who have symptoms upon arrival or during the quarantine period. These rooms shall be located away from other quarantine rooms and convenient for transport of patients to treatment facilities.

+ Each isolation room shall have: a bed, disinfectants for hands, gloves and facemasks, a foot-operated trash bin with plastic bags and the label “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“DANGER OF SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION”) and another foot-operated trash bin with plastic bags for domestic wastes.

- - One or two backup rooms shall be prepared for people who develop Covid-19 symptoms during the quarantine period. These backup rooms shall be located away from other quarantine rooms.

- Anteroom/antechamber:

+ The anteroom/antechamber shall be located at the entrance of the quarantine sector for staff to put on and remove PPE before entering/leaving the quarantine sector.

- Bathrooms in the quarantine sector:

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+ Have separate rooms for males and females.

+ Have soap, clean water, toilet paper, common detergent, a foot-operated trash bin with plastic bags and the label “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“DANGER OF SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION”) and another foot-operated trash bin with plastic bags for domestic wastes.

+ Be cleaned every day.

+ Trash must be collected from portable restrooms containers when they are full.

b) Administration area:

- The administration area shall be separated from the quarantine sector, convenient for travel and observing the quarantine sector and have:

+ Computers, printers, office supplies.

+ Communications devices, wireless internet connection.

- - Loudspeakers or handheld megaphones for making announcements and providing instructions for quarantine subjects and staff in the quarantine sector.

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- Separate bathrooms for males and females with soap, clean water and common detergent.

- A foot-operated trash bin with plastic bags for domestic wastes.

c) Kitchen:

- The kitchen shall be separated from the quarantine sector.

- There shall be adequate supply of clean water.

- Food safety shall be ensured during preparation and distribution of food.

- Use carts to distribute rations to quarantine subjects.

- Retain food samples as per regulations.

- There shall be a foot-operated trash bin with plastic bags for domestic wastes.

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- Documents about Covid-19 prevention and control.

- Hand sanitizer.

- Foot-operated trash bins with plastic bags and the label “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“DANGER OF SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION”).

- Foot-operated trash bins with plastic bags for domestic wastes.

- The staircase, elevator, control panel, floor and corridor shall be cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis.

d) Supplies reception area:

- Place a table at the guard post to receive supplies sent by the quarantine subjects’ families.

- The sender shall register with the security guard, place the supplies on the table, provide the recipient name and age.

- The quarantine facility employees shall move the supplies to the entrance of the quarantine sector and inform the recipients.

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g) Temporary waste storage area:

- Wastes shall be temporarily stored in a separate area with roof, elevated floor and warning sign before they are transported to the treatment facility.

- There shall be yellow containers with cover, wheels, hard shell and the label “CHẤT THẢI CÓ NGUY CƠ CHỨA SARS-CoV-2” (“DANGER OF SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION”).

- There shall be containers cover, wheels and hard shell for domestic wastes.

- There shall be a hand washing station with clean water and soap.

- There shall be 0,05% active chlorine solution to disinfect the waste containers after use.

VIII. Organizing the quarantine:

1. The People’s Committees of provinces shall:

a) Preside over and organize the quarantine process; provide resources serving the quarantine process; support quarantine subjects during their quarantine period.

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a) Issue or authorize the issuance of decisions to establish quarantine facilities.

b) Issue or authorize the issuance of decisions to approve lists of quarantine subjects and the list of people whose quarantine have been completed.

c) Request relevant authorities to provide guidance for preparation of quarantine facilities.

d) Preside over and organize the quarantine process; mobilize resources serving the quarantine process; support quarantine subjects during their quarantine period.

dd) Counsel the People’s Committees of provinces to provide uniform pricing guidance and payment for quarantine at private quarantine facilities.

e) Reach agreements with quarantine facilities on temporary use of their facilities for Covid-19 quarantine.

g) Strictly supervise the quarantine process; enforce quarantine of uncooperative subjects.

h) Send documents about quarantine of foreigners to Consular Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform diplomatic missions of the countries/territories whose nationals are quarantined.

l) Appoint specialized agencies to carry out food safety inspection at quarantine facilities or provide catering services at quarantine facilities.

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a) Have rules and regulations of the quarantine facility, quarantine sector and quarantine rooms.

b) Provide essential amenities for quarantine subjects.

c) Deliver food in separate containers for each quarantine subject.

d) Do not allow parties and gatherings in the quarantine sector.

e) Support the quarantine subjects throughout their quarantine period.

g) Strictly supervise the quarantine process; enforce quarantine of uncooperative subjects.

h) Hold daily meetings with relevant units of the quarantine facility.

i) Maintain security and safety at the quarantine facility.

4. The quarantine facility manager/owner shall:

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b) Cooperate in preparing for the quarantine process.

c) Spread information about Covid-19 prevention and control. Put up posters and notices about Covid-19 prevention and control.

d) Do not hold events that attract a crowd in the shared area or lodging area.

e) Inform the authorities and cooperate in enforcing quarantine of uncooperative subjects.

g) Organize the cleaning and disinfection of the shared area.

5. Health workers and employees of the quarantine facility shall:

a) Organize the reception, take body temperature and perform initial health check of the quarantine subjects at the reception area. Make a list, record information about the quarantine subjects’ family, lodging, phone numbers; their relative’s name and phone number.

Move any quarantine subject who has a fever or a Covid-19 symptom upon reception to the isolation room, then cooperate with the provincial preventive healthcare center in transporting him/her to the treatment facility as per regulations.

c) Arrange quarantine subjects in the quarantine rooms so that subjects with the same epidemiological characteristics or date of receipt are in the same room or area in the quarantine sector. It is best to have a separate room for each subject. Otherwise, the beds must be located at least 1 m from each other or separated with white plastic partitions.

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dd) Monitor the health of quarantine subjects at least twice a day (in the morning and afternoon); record the result in their health records.

e) Instruct quarantine subjects to put their used facemasks and tissues into containers for infectious wastes and other wastes into containers for domestic wastes.

g) Remind quarantine subjects not to share personal objects such as cups, bowls, chopsticks, spoons, napkins, toothbrushes, etc.

h) Carry out daily food safety inspection of the kitchen of the quarantine facility.

i) Strictly comply with regulations of the Ministry of Health on protection of health workers from infection when having contact with quarantine subjects.

k) Promptly inform the person in charge of the quarantine facility, the Department of Health, Center for Disease Control or Preventive Healthcare Center of the province of quarantine subjects who have fever, cough, sore throat, difficult breathing during the quarantine process; transport them to a health facility for management and treatment as per regulations.

l) Submit daily report to the person in charge of the quarantine facility, the Department of Health, Center for Disease Control or Preventive Healthcare Center of the province.

6. Quarantine subjects shall:

a) Adhere to the rules and regulations of the quarantine facility; make a written commitment to stay in quarantine (use the enclosed form).

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c) Have body temperature taken at least twice a day (in the morning and afternoon); self-monitor health daily.

d) Inform the health worker in charge when having any of the Covid-19 symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, difficult breathing.

dd) Avoid getting out of the quarantine room; minimize contact with other people in the quarantine sector.

e) Do not gather, eat together, play games in the room, corridor, yard in the quarantine sector.

g) Wash, clean personal belongings such as clothes, tableware with soap or common detergent.

g) Not share personal objects such as cups, bowls, chopsticks, spoons, napkins, toothbrushes, etc.

i) Eat and drink adequately; exercise lightly.

k) Put used facemasks and tissues into containers for infectious wastes.

l) Put other domestic wastes into containers for domestic wastes.

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- Always use personal protective equipment while working in the quarantine sector.

- Wash hands with soap or sanitizer before and after entering/leaving the quarantine sector.

- Make a list and daily monitoring health of the persons who regularly work in the quarantine sector.

- A person who is pregnant or has a chronic diseases (bronchial asthma, chronic pulmonary heart disease, renal failure, liver failure, heart failure, cancer, diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency, etc.) must not work at the quarantine facility.

X. What to do with suspected and confirmed cases in the quarantine facility

1. Promptly inform the person in charge of the quarantine facility, the Department of Health, Center for Disease Control or Preventive Healthcare Center of the province and the local authority.

2. Promptly move the suspected or confirmed case to the isolation room.

3. Move the persons who stay in the same room with the suspected case or confirmed case to the backup quarantine room.

4. Cooperate with the Center for Disease Control or Preventive Healthcare Center of the province in epidemiological investigation.

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6. The Department of Health shall preside over the disinfection of the patient’s room in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Health. The patient’s room may only be used after it is disinfected.

X. Shutting down the quarantine facility

After the purposes of a quarantine facility are served, the following tasks shall be performed:

1. Complete the procedures required by competent authorities.

2. Collect and remove the wastes; clean the environment.

3. Disinfect the quarantine sector for the last time with 0,1% active chlorine solution.

4. Hold a concluding meeting.

5. Submit reports to the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Control of the province, local government and relevant authorities./.