Available in Vietnam: Resolution 16/NQ-CP stipulating guidance on quarantine expenses due to Covid-19

Available in Vietnam: Resolution 16/NQ-CP stipulating guidance on quarantine expenses due to Covid-19 (Artwork)

Accordingly, in Resolution 16/NQ-CP, the Government provides specific guidance on quarantine and healthcare expenses during quarantine period as follows:

(1) Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese, upon entry into Vietnam, if not subject to concentrated quarantine shall:

- Follow the order to take COVID-19 diagnosis test by the health facility and have to bear the test expenses according to applicable health service charges.

The above regulation shall not be applicable to members of high-ranking diplomatic delegations, foreign investors, business managers, experts and guests invited by Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies and Presidents of Provincial People’s Committees. The order to take screening test for these cases shall be subject to decision of the Ministry of Health and the inviting agency. The cost of COVID-19 diagnosis test shall be exempt or at the expenses of the test takers shall be subject to decision of the Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies or Presidents of Provincial People’s Committees.

- Agencies and organizations that invite entrants shall have to notify the local Department of Health about the list of the entrants and addresses of their accommodations for organization of medical surveillance and COVID-19 diagnosis.

(2) Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese, upon entry into Vietnam, subject to concentrated quarantine shall:

- Have to have a valid international insurance certificate guaranteeing medical check and treatment in Viet Nam that is conformable with the length of their stay in Vietnam.

- Have to isolate themselves at hotels or resorts (not being quarantined in military barracks, military schools, or other facilities chosen by the competent authorities as concentrated quarantine facilities).

- And bear following expenses:

• The expense for transport from port of entry to quarantine facility;

• The expense for COVID-19 diagnosis according to applicable health service charges;

• Subsistence expenses (including disinfection and sterilization cost; cost of protection, security, order and other expenses) based on the rates announced by the hotels, resorts, or owners of means of transport.

(3) Vietnamese people who go abroad for working, studying, tourism, medical treatment and visiting their relatives shall have to be quarantined at concentrated camps when they return to Viet Nam.

- If they choose to isolate themselves at hotels and resorts, they have to pay for related services as prescribed in point c clause 2 Article 1 hereof.

- If the returnee, upon decision of the People’s Committee of province, shall be quarantined in a military barrack, military school, or another facility chosen by the competent authority as concentrated quarantine facility, he/she shall bear the following expenses:

• The expense for transport from port of entry to quarantine facility;

• The expense for COVID-19 diagnosis according to applicable health service charges;

• The expense for meals, equivalent to VND 80,000/person/day;

• The subsistence expense during the concentrated quarantine period (drinking water, face towels, face masks, hand sanitizers, oral disinfectant solution, toothbrush, soap, necessities and other expenses), equivalent to VND 40,000/person/day.

If a returnee subject to concentrated quarantine is member of a poor or near-poor household, expenses will be covered by the State as prescribed in point b hereof.

(4) Vietnamese people who are sent abroad by competent regulatory authorities for working, studying; members of overseas Vietnamese agencies, accompanying spouses and juvenile children shall have to be quarantined at concentrated camps when they return to Viet Nam.

- If they choose to isolate themselves at hotels and resorts, they have to pay for related services as prescribed in point c clause 2 Article 1 hereof. Their expenses for COVID-19 diagnosis shall be covered by the State.

- If they are quarantined in military barracks, military schools, or other facilities chosen by the competent authorities as concentrated quarantine facilities, the expenses incurred as prescribed in point b clause 3 Article 1 hereof shall be covered by the State.

(5) Vietnamese people in Vietnam subject to concentrated quarantine shall:

- If they choose to isolate themselves at hotels and resorts, they have to pay for related services as prescribed in point c clause 2 Article 1 hereof.

- If they are quarantined in health facilities, military barracks, military schools, or other facilities chosen by the competent authorities as concentrated quarantine facilities, they shall pay the expense for meal of VND 80,000/person/day to the quarantine facilities; the expenses below shall be covered by the State:

• The expense for transport from place where the suspect is found to the quarantine facility;

• The expense for COVID-19 diagnosis;

• The subsistence expense during the concentrated quarantine period (drinking water, face towels, face masks, hand sanitizers, oral disinfectant solution, toothbrush, soap, necessities and other expenses), equivalent to VND 40,000/person/day.

If a person subject to concentrated quarantine is member of a poor or near-poor household, expenses will be covered by the State as prescribed in point b hereof, including the meal expense of VND 80,000/person/day

(6) Persons engaged in pandemic prevention and control, subject to concentrated quarantine, are eligible to allowances specified in Clause 4, Article 1 hereof.

(7) During the concentrated quarantine period, if a quarantined person suffers another disease which requires examination and treatment, the payment for examination and treatment expenses is as follows:

- The holder of health insurance card shall be entitled to health insurance fund’s coverage rate of permissible medical costs as if he/she takes examination and treatment with appropriate-level referral. For co-payment costs and costs not covered by the health insurance (if any), the quarantined person shall bear them according to the regulations of the law on health insurance.

- Persons who do not have health insurance cards shall pay the full costs of medical examination and treatment at applicable health service charges.

More details can be found in Vietnam's Resolution 16/NQ-CP which takes effect from February 8, 2021, replacing Vietnam's Resolution 37/NQ-CP.

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