HCMC proposes private hospital, home treatment for foreign arrivals with Covid

The proposal came after medical authorities said most infected entrants, including those with the Omicron variant, were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.

Under the new proposal, those arriving with severe symptoms would be transferred to field hospitals with multiple treatment levels, while moderate cases would be transferred to either Field Hospital No. 12 or a private hospital if the arrivals so choose.

Those arriving with mild or no symptoms can be isolated at home, at Field Hospital No.12 or a private hospital if their places of residence do not meet quarantine criteria.

More commercial flights are bringing back people to Vietnam ahead of Tet, the country's most important holiday. Arrivals also include foreigners and diplomats who wish to be quarantined either at home or private hospitals, according to the HCMC health department. Allowing entrants to be isolated at home and at private hospitals would be convenient for them, and also ensure Covid safety, the department has said.

There are currently six private hospitals eligible to quarantine arrivals: the Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital, the Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital, the Tan Hung General Hospital, the FV Hospital, the Gia An 115 Hospital and the City International Hospital.

Currently, HCMC arrivals who test positive for the coronavirus are either be treated at the Field Hospital No.12 (mild cases) or the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases (severe cases).

The southern city has recorded 92 cases with the Omicron variant so far, including five community transmissions linked to a woman arriving from the U.S.