Children quarantined at Việt Tiến Commune's kindergarten, Việt Yên District, Bắc Giang Province, during lunchtime. Some are accompanied by their relatives, some are on their own. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HÀ NỘI — Children under five years old in Bắc Giang who had close contact with COVID-19 patients can now be quarantined at home provided that all pandemic prevention requirements are met, according to an urgent notice from the health ministry to the northern province, which is being hard hit by the virus.

The notice, signed by deputy health minister Nguyễn Trường Sơn on Saturday, provided new instructions for medical quarantine for children under 15 years old in the northern province, which has become Việt Nam’s biggest COVID-19 hotspot during the fourth wave of infections since late April.

The move aims to guarantee a safe and convenient living environment for children during the quarantine period, reduce pressure on overloaded quarantine sites and prevent cross-infections.

Children under 15 years old are required to be quarantined for 21 days. Those under five can quarantine entirely at home if all preventive requirements against the spread of the coronavirus are met.

Those aged 5-15, meanwhile, must stay at concentrated quarantine sites for seven days and can complete the rest of their quarantine at home if they test negative for the virus three times during the first seven 7 days.

The number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the latest wave of outbreaks since April 27 in Việt Nam has hit 5,561 as of Sunday noon, more than half of which were recorded in Bắc Giang. — VNS