SARS-COV-2 Testing Strategy

We tested all F1 persons quarantined at BMH for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR in the microbiology department; persons at the CTD, NHI, and neurology department (ND) were tested 3 times to confirm the situations in these departments, and all others at BMH were tested once. Because of the requirement of >2 negative tests before a person was released from quarantine, Hanoi Center for Disease Control conducted an additional retest for all confirmed cases before the removal of lockdown. The test kits were either donated by the WHO or provided by Viet-A Corporation. In total, an estimated 15,000 tests were analyzed for quarantined persons at BMH. Each test cost »$30 USD.

F1 and F2 persons who were traced and quarantined in the community were provided >1 test by the local Center for Disease Control. The numbers of tests per person depended on the decision of the local steering committee, which considered the occurrence of symptoms and laboratory capacity.

The study was approved by the BMH ethics committee. We applied all ethics considerations needed according to MoH or by its designees.