Updated on March 15, 2022: What are the definition of 'leaving the isolation location' for F0 managed at home under the Vietnam Ministry of Health?
What are the regulation on implementing infection prevention measures for F0 managed at home in Vietnam?
According to the instructions in Section 5 of the Guidelines issued together with Decision 604/QD-BYT in 2022 on implementing infection preventtion and control measures when managing at home as follows :
"5. GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT AT HOME
...
5.4. Implemention of infection prevention and control measures
F0 and caregivers or people living in the same household as someone with COVID-19 implement infection control and infection prevention measures, as follows:
a) F0 should limit going out of isolation locations. When you have to leave the isolation location, you must wear a mask and keep your distance from others.
b) Caregivers or family members living in the same house always wear masks and keep their distance when they have to come into contact with F0.
c) The isolation location is kept well ventilated, limiting the use of items that are difficult to clean (cotton animals, paper, paperboard, etc.) in this area.
d) Wash or disinfect hands frequently. Disinfect frequently touched items and surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs, hand-held devices, toilets, sinks, etc., daily and when dirty.
dd) Classify and collect infectious waste according to regulations."
Thus, F0 and their caregivers or people living in the same house implement infection prevention and control measures as follows:
- F0 should limit to leave isolation locations. When leaving the isolation location, you must wear a mask and keep your distance from others.
- Caregivers or family members living in the same house always wear masks and keep a distance when getting in touch with F0.
- The isolation location is kept well ventilated, limiting the use of items that are difficult to clean (cotton animals, paper, paperboard, etc.) in this area.
- Wash or disinfect hands frequently. Disinfect frequently touched items and surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs, hand-held devices, toilets, sinks, etc., daily and when dirty.
- Classify and collect infectious waste according to regulations.
Can F0 self-caring at home in Vietnam leave the isolation location?
With the instruction "F0 need to limit leaving the isolation location. When leaving the isolation location, they must wear a mask and keep a distance from others", in Official Dispatch 254/KCB-NV dated On March 15, 2022, the Ministry of Health responded as follows:
"2. When implementing "Instructions on management at home for F0", it must guide and clarify some contents as follows:
a) Point a, section 5.4 stipulates “a) F0 need to limit going out of isolation locations. When leaving the isolation location, you must wear a mask and keep your distance from others.” “Isolation location” in this regulation is understood as an isolation room in the house. F0 can leave isolation location, but not out of the house."
Thus, the phrase "isolation location" is understood as an isolation room in the house. F0 can leave isolation location, but cannot leave the house. When having to leave the isolation location at home, F0 must wear a mask and keep a distance from others.
"Adult (over 16 years old)" means "Adult and child over 16 years old"
According to Official Dispatch 254/KCB-NV dated March 15, 2022, the Ministry of Health proposes guidance on how to interpret "Adults (over 16 years old)" is "Adults and children over 16 years old", specifically as follows: :
"2. When implementing "Instructions on management at home for F0", it must guide and clarify some contents as follows:
..
b) Section 5.1.3 “Adults (over 16 years old)”: recommended guidance is “Adults and children over 16 years old”.”
Accordingly, the management at home for F0-adults (over 16 years old) according to the instructions in Section 5 of the Guidelines issued together with Decision 604/QD-BYT in 2022 will also be applied to adults and children over 16 years old when monitoring infection symptoms and taking medicine to treat, specifically as follows:
"5. GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT AT HOME
...
5.1.3. Adults (over 16 years old)
a) Monitoring infection symptoms:
- Indicators: breathing rate, pulse, temperature, SpO2 and blood pressure (if possible).
- Symptoms: fatigue, cough, coughing up phlegm, chills/splits, conjunctivitis (red eyes), loss of taste or smell, diarrhea (loose stools/passes); coughing up blood, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain, lethargy, not alertness; other symptoms such as sore throat, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, muscle aches, etc.
b) Abnormal signs: Detecting any one of the following signs must immediately notify the facility managing F0 at home/accommodation: commune health stations, wards; or mobile medical stations, emergency transportation centers, etc. to receive medical examination, emergency treatment and timely transfer or to take F0 to medical facilities for medical examination and treatment.
(1) Shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
(2) Breathing rate ≥ 20 breaths/minute.
(3) SpO2 ≤ 96%.
(4) Tachycardia > 120 beats/min or < 50 beats/min.
(5) Low blood pressure: systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure < 60 mmHg (if measurable).
(6) Frequent chest pain, feeling of tightness in the chest, pain that increases when taking a deep breath.
(7) Purple lips, purple tips of fingernails, toenails, blue skin, pale lips, cold fingertips and toes.
(8) Altered consciousness: confusion, narcolepsy, lethargy, extreme fatigue/exhaustion, convulsions.
(9) Unable to eat or drink due to vomiting.
(10) Any unstable condition of a F0 that requires medical examination and treatment."
5.2. Treatment
a) Antipyretic drugs when the temperature is ≥ 38.50 C or severe headache:
- Adults: paracetamol, 1 tablet 500mg or 10-15mg/kg each time, can be repeated every 4-6 hours. Note that the total dose should not exceed 4g (4000mg)/day.
- Children: paracetamol dose 10-15 mg/kg/time (oral or rectal), at least 4-6 hours if needing to be repeated (or use dose according to age if the weight of the child is unknown. in Appendix 02); Note that the total dose should not exceed 60 mg/kg/day.
b) Electrolyte balancing solution for dehydration (due to high fever, diarrhea, fatigue): Encourage F0 to drink plenty of water, can use juice or Oresol (mix and use in the right direction) instructions), if you do not want to drink Oresol, you can replace it with cooled boiled water, juice. Do not use industrial soda solutions (not produced from fruit) to rehydrate;
c) Increase nutrition, eat enough nutrients, increase eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
d) Use drugs to treat symptoms when necessary:
- Coughing a lot: Can use cough suppressants from herbs, or cough suppressants alone, or cough suppressants combined with antihistamines.... Note the indications, contraindications and warnings/kidneys while using the drug
- Nasal congestion, runny nose: nasal spray, nasal drops with 0.9% sodium chloride solution.
- Diarrhea: probiotics beneficial to the intestines (probiotics), digestive enzymes.
dd) For people who are using drugs to treat underlying diseases according to outpatient prescriptions: continue to use them according to instructions.
e) Other drugs: antiretroviral drugs… used when indicated, prescribed according to current regulations.
g) Note:
- Do not arbitrarily use antiviral, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory drugs ... without indications or prescriptions.
- Do not steam children."
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