Vietnam: Which cases are considered likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2?

Vietnam: Cases are considered likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 (Illustration)

According to Vietnam's Decision 1125/QD-BYT, cases of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection include: 

Case 1: A patient who has fever and/or acute respiratory disease that cannot be attributed to other causes.

Case 2: A patient who has any respiratory symptom AND has traveled to/through/from or stayed in a COVID-19 infected epidemiological zone* in the 14 days prior to symptom onset OR has had close contact (**) with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case in the 14 days prior to symptom onset.

- Epidemiological zone: a country or territory recording domestically-transmitted COVID-19 cases or an active epidemic hotspot in Vietnam per the interim guidelines for COVID-19 monitoring and prevention promulgated by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam and updated by General Department of Preventive Medicine.

- Close contact includes:

(1) Contact at healthcare establishments, including direct care of a COVID-19 case; working with a health care worker infected with COVID-19; visiting a COVID-19 case or staying in the same room with a COVID-19 case.

(2) Direct contact within less than or equal to 2 meters with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case during period of illness.

(3) Living in the same house as a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case during period of illness.

(4) Working with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case in the same team or office during period of illness.

(5) Being in a tourist group, business team, group of friends, etc. with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case during period of illness.

(6) Traveling in the same vehicle (sitting on the same row or within two rows in front of or behind) with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case during period of illness.

More details can be found in Vietnam's Decision 1125/QD-BYT, effective from February 8, 2021.

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