Vietnam PM Allows Health Agencies to Order COVID-19 Testing Services

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has allowed public health facilities to order real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based COVID coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing services from some other public and private health facilities, in a bid to meet the huge testing demands as the country resumed some international commercial flights. The information was released from Decision 1587/QD-TTg. The move applies on tests, which are paid by the state budget. As of September 13, Vietnam had 137 testing rooms capable of carrying out COVID-19 tests based on RT-PCR technology. Foreigners entering Vietnam on commercial flights would also have to pay around VND1.47 million for two mandatory RT-PCR-based COVID-19 tests and register with local authorities about their contact and quarantine details, the local VnExpress newspaper reported. (Bao Chinh Phu, ncov.moh)