The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has suggested that direct contacts of COVID-19 patients be quarantined at their homes on a trial basis.

The health department has just submitted a document to the municipal People’s Committee regarding the proposed pilot phase in all districts and Thu Duc City.

In its previous proposition on Monday, the agency only suggested that the new quarantine regulations be piloted in areas at high risk of infection, namely District 3, District 6, District 7, District 10, District 11, Phu Nhuan District, Nha Be District, and Can Gio District.

However, the city’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control later said that the trial phase should be conducted in all 21 districts as well as Thu Duc City.

The health department stated that the new quarantine regulations are necessary given the rapidly increasing number of direct contacts in the city.

It will also help prevent overcrowding and cross-infections at concentrated quarantine centers.

The rules will be based on the strict requirements from the Ministry of Health.

The home quarantine period will last 28 days, and each quarantined person will be tested for COVID-19 on the first, seventh, 14th, 21st, and 28th days.

Only those who wore face masks when in direct contact with COVID-19 patients and have negative rapid antigen tests are eligible for home quarantine.

They must also fit into one of the following categories, namely individuals coming into direct contact with patients on an irregular basis, people working in the same room with a patient but are more than two meters away from them, people over 60, children, or the disabled individuals who require regular care.

Direct contacts who have spent 14 days in centralized facilities and tested negative for COVID-19 on their 14th day may also be allowed to quarantine at home.

The health ministry currently mandates that direct contacts of coronavirus patients be quarantined at concentrated centers for 21 days.

Vietnam had documented 23,740 cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday afternoon, with 8,557 recoveries and 105 deaths, according to the health ministry.

The country has recorded 20,279 local infections in 56 provinces and cities since the fourth wave began on April 27.

Ho Chi Minh City leads the table with 8,585 cases.

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