HCMC allows vaccinated close Covid contacts to go to school, work

According to a guideline on medical measures for people having close contact with Covid-19 cases issued by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on Thursday, close contacts must monitor their own health for at least 10 days since their last contact with Covid-19 cases, and must be tested on either the fifth day or the day symptoms show up.

However, during the time period they are free to go to school or go to work using personal vehicles. They must wear mask constantly and disinfect their hands often. They must not use the same personal items with others to prevent infection.

They must also avoid close contacts with people vulnerable to Covid-19, like those with underlying conditions, those aged above 50, those who are pregnant and those who are unvaccinated.

Regulations issued by the Health Ministry last month require people who are close contacts of Covid-19 cases to self-isolate for five days if they are fully vaccinated, and seven days if they're unvaccinated.

HCMC has recorded over 586,900 Covid-19 cases so far, with 20,329 deaths.

All adults in the city, those aged from 18 years old, have been fully vaccinated, and 64.7 percent of them have received their third Covid-19 vaccine shots.