Please Read – New Restrictions & Testing of Recent Travelers

Dear Faculty and Staff,

First of all, let me correct the phone number I sent you yesterday. My phone number is +84903847113. Apologies and thanks to Thomas Galvez for noticing.

Some updated restrictions on public services

Late this afternoon, it was declared (Peoples Committee document 1049) that as of 6 pm today, restaurants, beer clubs, dining places (with a capacity of >30), gyms, spas, hairdressers, and barbershops will be shut down until March 31 – and a further extension is anticipated. At this time, we do not know how it may or may not affect food delivery places.

Staff Lunch

It does, however, unfortunately, affect our catering services. So for all local staff, who have a catered lunch at school, we will find an alternative way to provide lunch tomorrow and until the decision is lifted.

Recent Traveler Announcement

Recent travelers, whether you are American or not, please note the message that came from the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, today. The Government of Vietnam has begun a comprehensive COVID-19 testing campaign for all travelers who have arrived from outside the country from 7th to 24th of March 2020. The Prime Minister has ordered provinces and cities to identify such travelers in the next 48 hours. You are not included in this group if you did not travel during the stated period.

All foreign hires should have passports on standby at home. For those whose passport is with HR (for Work Permit/Visa application), HR will prepare a copy of your work permit and passport (with recent entry stamp) for you to keep at home in the meantime. If you need Vietnamese language assistance, please call Ha Noi (0909625 699), or Mai (0794667 118).

Final Reflections

Although it may feel like our world is shrinking, please do remember that it has been the fast and preemptive measures that have kept our community safe thus far. I urge you to take the directives seriously, minimize contact between one another and maintain social distancing practices. Determine your social cohort, the people that you know and interact with, confident that they follow the same safety measures as you.

This too shall pass, but for now, we must all make sacrifices even to the daily lives we have become accustomed to, and be extra vigilant, for our own safety, for the safety of our community, and for the greater good.

All good wishes,

Catriona