HCM City has stopped the rapid test for passengers at Tan Son Nhat airport.

After Vietnam lifted restrictions and reopened all international air routes from February 15, Dr. Do Van Dung, Member of the HCM City Advisory Group on epidemic prevention and control policy, said: “I fully support it. We have to get used to living with Covid-19 safely, not apply Zero Covid or Zero Omicron."

According to this expert, current regulations on Covid-19 prevention for people entering Vietnam are convenient compared to many other countries.

For example, in the United States, passengers entering this country need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and have a negative test within one day before flying. After arriving in the US, they must self-isolate for seven days and be tested on the third and fifth day.

In Singapore, the rules are even stricter. Vietnamese people cannot travel to Singapore at this time. "If there is a reason, they can come, but they must be tested before departure, must isolate at a hotel for seven days and must test negative before leaving the isolation area," he said.

In Vietnam, a document issued on December 16, 2021 by the Ministry of Health stipulates that passengers must have negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours before entry (except for children under 2 years old).

Upon entering Vietnam, people who have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 need to monitor their health at the place of residence for the first three days, not be in contact with people around, and not leave the place of residence. They should be tested by RT-PCR method on the third day from the date of entry. If the test result is negative, they need to monitor their health for 14 days.

People entering the country who have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated must self-isolate at the place of residence for seven days from the date of entry; be tested by RT-PCR on the third and seventh day. If the test result is negative, they must monitor their health for 14 days.

If the test result is positive, it will be handled according to regulations. Those who have not been vaccinated or have not had enough shots will be given free injections by the health sector during the isolation period at the place of residence after entry.

“We allow people entering the country who have Covid-19 to be isolated at home or at private medical facilities. This regulation is quite easy. However, I think that testing should be offered at the airport as soon as passengers enter the country," Dr. Dung said.

He said that the quick test does not take time but can confirm if people are infected with Covid-19, ensuring safer for the community, and contributing to early detection of the Omicron variant.

On February 14, Mr. Nguyen Hong Tam, Deputy Director of the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City (HCDC) said the city had stopped the rapid antigen test for passengers at Tan Son Nhat airport.

Ho Chi Minh City has detected 115 cases of Omicron cases from people entering Vietnam through international border gate.

Linh Giao

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