Coronavirus Update: Staying Ahead – preparing for Quarantine or Isolation

Catriona Moran | March 24, 2020 | All Schools | No Comments

Dear Faculty and Staff,

First of all, let me assure you that there is no one sickened with COVID-19 in our community. However, we have witnessed the extraordinary precautionary measures that the Vietnamese Government is taking to keep us all safe and healthy. And, we appreciate that.

Since last week, a number of apartment buildings around the city have been locked down, sometimes for a few days, sometimes longer depending on whether or not people were identified as being positive for COVID-19. Sometimes, the lockdown affected one or two floors of an apartment building, other times the entire building was locked down. Heads of other international schools have shared that staff members who were locked down, quarantined, or isolated in the hospital were treated very well.

Although we have faculty living in Scenic Valley, none have been affected by the current lockdown of Scenic Valley 2, as they are staying in other blocks of the complex. None of our faculty or staff members are sick. The reason that Scenic Valley 2 is being investigated and monitored, is due to an outsider who visited the building for 30 minutes on Friday, who has tested positive. Hung Vuong 1 is also locked down but we do not have anyone living there either. If, at any time, your building is locked down, contact your admin or one of our nurses so that we can support you in every way we can.

This is a lot of information and we invite you to ask for clarification or expansion of any matters discussed below. Please save this document in case you need it at any time. All best wishes. Catriona

Preparing for Quarantine

While we cannot control everything around us, we can control our level of preparedness. In the event that we are home-quarantined or if our buildings are locked down at any time, here are some things that we each can do to be prepared.

How to Prepare for Home Quarantine

Walk yourself through your daily and weekly routines, and think about what you would need to live comfortably in your home for 14 days without going out and without anyone coming in*. Here are some suggestions.

Canned food
Frozen vegetables
Pasta, rice, bread
Medications for fever, cough, nasal congestion, asthma (enough of your usual puffer)
Personal hygiene products
Soap
Cleaning supplies (trash bags, paper towels, laundry detergent)
Tissues
Pet supplies (food, cat litter, etc)
Yoga mat or exercise equipment

*When a building is locked down, the delivery of goods is still possible and will be delivered to your door.

Definition of quarantine and isolation

The following definitions are from WHO Interim guidance “Considerations for quarantine of individuals in the context of containment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19)”

Quarantine is the restriction of activities or separation of persons who are not ill, but who may be exposed to an infectious agent or disease, with the objective of monitoring symptoms and early detection of cases.

Isolation is the separation of ill or infected persons from others, so as to prevent the spread of infection or contamination.

What to Do If You Have COVID-19 Symptoms

To protect yourself and anyone else who might be infected, you must seek medical advice if you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

First, call International SOS via your Assistance App (or phone +84-28-3829-8520) or via the Vietnamese hotline (1900 3228). They will tell you which medical facility to go to for testing. Also, make sure to tell someone at SSIS (e.g. Lisa (0938237080), Catriona (093847113) or WaiMun (096893988) so that we can be sure to support you in any way we can.

The doctor at the medical facility will ask you a series of questions and will decide if you need to be tested. All doctors/clinics in District 7 can now take test swabs. The swab is sent to the testing facility at Pasteur Institute. If you are tested, you will probably be held at the clinic for 6-8 hours until the results are available. (There is a test being developed for rapid testing results that only takes 3 hours.) If your result is positive, the doctor will notify the Ministry of Health and you will be taken to a hospital for isolation. If your test is positive for COVID-19, you are considered to be F0 according to the Vietnamese classification of contagion.

Vietnam Classification of People Who Might Be Exposed to COVID-19

Vietnam uses a unique system of classifying contact tracing and quarantine procedures (see diagram in Vietnamese, below). Here are the English translations and clarifications of each level.

F0	A person who tests POSITIVE with COVID-19
	REQUIRED ISOLATION at the hospital. You will have an individual isolation room at the hospital. FV is now approved by the Ministry of Health to treat COVID-19 patients. Children who test positive will have a parent go to isolation with them. Treatment is directed by a medical doctor. You and MoH will inform F1 about your current condition Tell someone at SSIS (e.g. HR, nurse, admin) so that we can be sure to support you in any way we can. Prepare a bag for hospital isolation: toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, tissues, hand sanitizer, masks, pajamas, underwear, a book, a phone, chargers, list of medications, usual medications for 14 days, list of close contacts. No valuables.
F1	A person SUSPECTED of having COVID-19 OR a close contact of F0
	REQUIRED ISOLATION at the hospital. If you receive an F1 notification, you must put on a mask immediately if you are with other people. You must keep a distance of at least 2m from all other people. You must report to International SOS via your Assistance App (or phone +84-28-3829-8520) or via the Vietnamese hotline (1900 3228). If you are identified as a CLOSE contact of F0 then you will need to have a bag ready to take to isolation. The Ministry of Health “hazmat team” will come to your door and take you to the isolation room at the hospital. You must inform F2 about your current condition. Tell someone at SSIS (e.g. HR, nurse, admin) so that we can be sure to support you in any way we can.
F2	A person who is in close contact (less than 2 meters for more than 15 min) of F1
	REQUIRED QUARANTINE at hospital or in home as advised by MoH If you receive an F2 notification, you must put on a mask immediately if you are with other people. You must keep a distance of at least 2m from all other people. You must report to International SOS via your Assistance App (phone +84-28-3829-8520) or via the Vietnamese hotline (1900 3228). If you are identified as a CLOSE contact of F1 then you will need to have a bag ready to take to isolation (see list above) if advised by MoH/ SOS. The Ministry of Health “hazmat team” will come to your door and take you to the isolation room at the hospital. You must inform F3 about your current condition. Tell someone at SSIS (e.g. HR, nurse, admin) so that we can be sure to support you in any way we can. If you are NOT required to go to the hospital you will still be REQUIRED to quarantine at home. You will need to be completely isolated from others and not go out for 14 days. You will need a separate bathroom, separate sleeping quarters, separate dishes and utensils. You will be monitored by the District 7 CDC. They will come to your door to check your temperature twice a day and monitor your symptoms. They will test for COVID-19. If the person who is F1 in your case, tests positive for COVID-19 then you too will move up to F1 (see above).
F3	A person in contact with F2
	RECOMMENDED SELF QUARANTINE at home If you receive an F3 notification, you must put on a mask immediately if you are with other people. You must keep a distance of at least 2m from all other people. You are allowed to go out for a run, to walk your dog, to go to the grocery store as long as you are wearing a mask and you stay 2m away from all people. You MAY be monitored by the District 7 CDC. They MAY come to your door to check your temperature twice a day and monitor your symptoms. If the person who is F1 in your case, tests positive for COVID-19 then you will move up to F2 (see above). You must inform F4 about your current condition. Tell someone at SSIS (e.g. HR, nurse, admin) so that we can be sure to support you in any way we can.
F4/ F5	A person in contact with F3/ F4
	RECOMMENDED SELF QUARANTINE at home. You are allowed to go out for a run, to walk your dog, to go to the grocery store but it is recommended that you wear a mask and you stay 2m away from people. Tell someone at SSIS (e.g. HR, nurse, admin) so that we can be sure to support you in any way we can. F4 must inform F5 about your current condition.