At the end of December 2021, Yen Bai province requires people returning from the red and orange areas who have received a full dose of the vaccine and recovered from the disease to go to the community health stations and the station to make a medical statement and to collect samples for initial testing by PCR when you return home. Then isolate at home for 7 days, continue to collect samples by PCR method 3 times, monitor health for another 14 days and test again. Those who have not received the full dose of vaccine or have not been vaccinated must isolate at home for 14 days, collect samples for testing 4 times and monitor their health for a further 14 days.

This province also requires people from the golden region to self-monitor their health at home for 7 days, take samples twice for testing, and follow-up for another 7 days. People from green spaces check their own health for 14 days. Those who stop making contact in the remaining three areas within 14 days must go to a medical facility for examination and medical explanation.

But in two days, Jan. 17-18, the Yen Bai Health Ministry continuously issued and amended regulations toward easing conditions for people coming to the area and returning to their hometown to celebrate Tet. Returnees do not have to present a negative test report, they only have to submit a medical declaration to the community pharmacy. Individuals who have received the full dose of vaccine (green card) or who have recovered self-monitor their health and perform 5K. Those who have not administered enough doses (yellow card) must self-monitor their health at home for 7 days; If not vaccinated, isolate at home for 7 days.

Compared to the old regulations, Yen Bai’s health sector has eliminated the classification of returnees into 4 epidemic zones based only on the injection of a few vaccines. The isolation and health surveillance period for unvaccinated people has also been reduced from 28 days to 7 days.

Ms. Le Thi Hong Van, Director of Yen Bai Health Department, explained the fact that 3 documents have been issued for more than 20 days and the regulations have been continuously changed, saying that the original regulation issued on December 27, 2021 applies to people, who come to the place. In her opinion, control measures for returnees cannot be initiated too early, as the epidemic situation changes from day to day.

“The new measures will be made more flexible to allow people to safely return to their hometown to celebrate Tet while ensuring epidemic prevention,” said Ms. Van.