The lowered period also applies to people who have to isolate themselves at home after coming into direct contact with Covid-19 patients.

The Ministry of Health said it made the decision based on recommendations of the World Health Organization and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The ministry also reduced the time of Covid-19 patients being treated in hospitals if they show no symptoms.

After a study of around 20,000 patients showed that nearly 70 percent did not have symptoms, asymptomatic patients will be tested on the ninth and 10th day of hospitalization. If they test negative or test positive with a cycle threshold (CT) of 30 or higher, they can be discharged and isolate themselves at home for 14 days.

In cases detected among the public, if the person tests positive but with CT of 30 or higher, he/she will be sent to a medical facility to be tested for the second time in 24 hours, and if the results are the same, they will be discharged and should isolate themselves at home for 14 days.

Vietnam had increased the quarantine period to 21 days on May 5 as a strengthened safety precaution following a spike in Covid-19 infections

Vietnam has recorded over 33,000 local Covid-19 cases in the latest Covid-19 wave which began April 27.