This is notable content prescribed in Decision 1444/QD-BYT in 2020, providing temporary guidance on the selection and use of facemasks in COVID-19 prevention and control issued by the Vietnam Ministry of Health.
Article table of contents
Principles for selecting facemasks used in COVID-19 prevention and control in Vietnam (Illustration)
Health experts believe that COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person through close-contact respiratory droplets. Anyone in close contact (within 1 meter) with individuals exhibiting respiratory symptoms (e.g., sneezing, coughing, etc.) is at risk of infection.
Wearing facemasks is just one of the preventive measures to limit the spread of certain respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Therefore, Decision 1444/QD-BYT specifies each type of facemask and the respective groups of users as follows:
| Type of facemask | User | Standard |
| Medical N95 facemask or Equivalent | Only for laboratory technicians, healthcare personnel, and those in direct contact to examine, treat, and care for Covid-19 patients. |
Includes common equivalent standards: + USA: N95 Respirator (standard NIOSH-42C FR84) + Europe: FFP2 Respirator (standard EN 149-2001) |
| Medical facemask | For healthcare officials working in medical environments with potential infection and frequent contact with patients (outpatient departments, treatment wards, intensive care units, etc.). | Managed as medical equipment (meeting minimum standards in TCVN 8389-1: 2010; TCVN 8389-2: 2010; and TCVN 8389-3: 2010 and having a registration number issued by a competent health authority according to Decree 36/2016/ND-CP). |
| Anti-Droplet, Antibacterial Fabric facemasks (Referred to as facemask 870) |
- For healthcare officials working in low-risk areas; - Individuals participating in pandemic prevention; |
Managed as regular goods, manufactured according to the regulations in Decision 870/QD-BYT dated March 12, 2020, by the Ministry of Health, providing temporary technical guidance for anti-droplet, antibacterial fabric facemasks and produced by enterprises under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Corporations, textile enterprises). |
| Various 3, 4-layer facemasks (not qualified as medical equipment); Ordinary Fabric facemasks | For healthy individuals in areas with low infection risk. | Managed as regular goods and produced according to basic standards, adhering to quality assurance conditions for products as stipulated in the Law on Product and Goods Quality. |
Note: Improper use of medical facemasks can cause unnecessary waste, shortages for healthcare facilities, and create false perceptions of safety, possibly leading to neglecting essential measures like hand washing with soap or 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Details can be found in Decision 1444/QD-BYT effective from March 29, 2020.
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