Patient 91 successfully cured in Vietnam (Photo: Zing)
The cost of treating patient 91 was up to USD150,000 before he was well enough to be discharged from the hospital and board a flight back to the UK with 3 Vietnamese doctors accompanying to care for him. On July 12th, the flight of Vietnam Airlines brought this patient to Heathrow Airport in London.
Right after the plane landed, British and American media simultaneously reported the event. In the article “British pilot returns home from Vietnam after COVID-19 ordeal”, the Guardian said “Stephen Cameron spent 10 weeks on a ventilator and was warned he might need a double lung transplant”.
According to the article, Cameron, “spent more than two months on life support in Vietnam after contracting COVID-19 is on his way home, astounding doctors who gave him a 10% chance of survival.”
“Stephen Cameron, 42, was the sickest patient medics have treated during the coronavirus outbreak in the country, which has recorded no official deaths, following a fast and proactive response to the pandemic,” the article added.
On July 11th, the Guardian also delivered an article reviewing the treatment of the patient, posting his gratitude to Vietnam saying as he left Cho Ray hospital that “I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the Vietnamese people, the dedication and professionalism of the doctors and nurses ... the odds say that I shouldn’t be here so I can only thank everybody here for what they’ve done.”
The Sky News channel on the same day also reported on the fact that patient 91 returned to the UK, adding that, for nearly 3 months, Vietnam has not recorded new cases of infection in the community, every case of recent infection being imported.
It praises “Vietnam keeps its perfect score” when “British pilot, 42, who was critical with coronavirus for 65 days finally leaves hospital as the country that borders China keeps its death toll at ZERO with just over 300 cases”.
In the US, many major media agencies simultaneously reported on the event. USA Today highly appreciated measures to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, considering this as a factor that helps Vietnam maintain the number of positive cases with SARS-CoV-2 to 370 and no deaths. According to the article, the great efforts of the medical staff in treating patient 91 have become a symbol of Vietnam's success in the fight against COVID-19.
AP news quoted Dr. Tran Thanh Linh, the deputy head of the intensive care unit (ICU) ward at Cho Ray Hospital, saying during a meeting between hospital officials, the British Consulate and Vietnam Airlines representatives just before the discharge that “The patient's recovery has been like a very long flight, but he made it.” “All of the health workers are overwhelmed with joy to see him fully recovered and being discharged from the hospital today.”