A pilot programme on the at-home quarantining of Covid-19 primary close contacts has started in the districts of Ngu Hanh Son and Hoa Vang. Afterwards, depending on the effectiveness of the pilot work, based on the actual developments of the virus resurgence, the plan will be adjusted, supplemented and completed, and the submitted to the competent authorities for consideration and application in other local districts.

Medical staffers conduct the analysis of samples collected from the direct contacts for Covid-19 testing. Photo: LE HUNG

The move aims to prevent overcrowding and cross-infection at concentrated quarantine sites.

Doctor Nguyen Hoa, Deputy Director of the city's Centre for Disease Control (CDC) said that the at-home quarantine scheme is, for the time being, applied to close contacts who complete their mandatory quarantine at local concentrated facilities for 7 days and have negative PCR test results conducted on the 1^st, 4^th and 7^th days.

Simply put, they must self-quarantine at home for another 7 days. After this home quarantine period is over, they must continue to self-monitor their health status at home as prescribed.

In order to be eligible for home quarantine, houses must stand separately from others and warning signs should be put in front of the houses.

The room for the quarantined person must be separate from the family’s common spaces and does not share the central air-conditioning system, and be disinfected daily.

Those under home isolation must strictly adhere to relevant quarantine rules, including not leaving the isolation rooms during the quarantine period, not coming into contact with others or pets.

Also, they must install and turn on the Viet Nam Health Declaration or Bluezone apps, and make regular health declarations, monitor their health status, and updating information on these apps.

The elderly and persons with underlying health conditions needing medical care must not stay at the same houses with those under home isolation.

Besides, other people sharing the same houses must not directly contact the F1s. They should also carry out self-health monitoring and minimise leaving the house.

Medical workers from ward-level medical centres must collect information and examine the health condition of the direct contacts and their caregivers on a daily basis.

The community-based COVID-19 task forces and related units are in charge of supervising the compliance with the home quarantine regulations.

The worker's housing building now serves as a temporary centralised quarantine facility in Cam Le District. Photo: LE HUNG

In the case that all family members are close contacts, in addition to performing the above –motioned safety measures, the quarantined must meet additional requirements such as absolutely not leaving the house, minimising contact amongst family members, wearing face masks whilst entering talks if any and keeping a safe distance from others.

In particular, a table used for receiving foodstuff must in front of the house to ensure  no contact with food delivery people. At the same time, domestic waste disposal is considered infectious waste.

Doctor Ngo Thi Kim Yen, the Director of the municipal Department of Health, said that in the spirit of the guidance of the Ministry of Health and the actual situation of the city as well as an assessment of the infection level of Delta variant, the Da Nang administration decided to organize a pilot at-home quarantine for the direct contacts in Ngu Hanh Son and Hoa Vang districts.

In addition to preventing overcrowding and cross-infection at concentrated quarantine sites, the pilot shame aims to raise public awareness of Covid-19 prevention and control, and strengthen supervision of medical home isolation as well.

Reporting by LE HUNG – Translating by A.T