Ho Chi Minh City extends the SARS-CoV-2 Testing Strategies for residents

People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City want to assess the epidemic situation in the area, expand the green zone, and move to control the epidemic throughout the city. Besides that, ensuring timely detection of COVID-19 patients for effective treatment; narrowing the "red zone", "orange zone", “yellow zone”; and expanding the "green zone" in the area.

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Figure 1: People participated in SARS-CoV-2 Testing Strategies

Here are some designating testing: 

       1. For the patients are treated COVID-19 in hospital:

           Collecting samples for testing as nominated by the treatment facility.

       2. For F0 within the centralized isolation ward of the district in Thu Duc City:

          + The RT-PCR result must have in 24 hours after admitting to isolation ward.

        + Testing RT-PCR single sample on the seventh day, if the result either negative or positive but the CT index 30 could be discharged from the hospital and monitored treatment at home.

       3. For F0 is isolating, caring, monitoring, treating at home:

          Taking test following on the specializing instructions of Department of Health.

       4. For F1 at the centralized isolation ward of the city, the district in Thu Duc City or home isolation:

          + Collecting first sample on the first day by the rapid antigen test.

          + Collecting second sample on the fourteenth day since isolation by the rapid antigen test.

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Figure 2: Some medical workers in Testing Community Centre 

Some regulations when taking samples for testing in the community: 

• Sampling location must be suitable: samples can be taken at the household or a convenient location, inviting each household to take samples in turn. Strictly following 5K rules of the Ministry of Health, avoiding cross-contamination during sampling.
• Taking samples: by the local sampling team or by the people themselves, according to the instructions of the sampling team’s medical staff. If people can collect samples themselves, medical staff or sampling teams will provide testing kits to households and collect results immediately.
• The person taking the sample strictly follows the procedures and regulations, ensure the cleaning and disinfection work. Especially, pay attention to the process of changing protective clothing, gloves or disinfecting gloves when taking samples.
• After taking samples for testing, the Medical Center receives and transports samples to the testing unit three times a day at 11:00, 18:00, and 23:00.