A COVID-19 patient is treating at National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (Photo: vietnamenet.vn)
The article stresses that Vietnam, a developing nation and with limited human resources, has well controlled the COVID-19 pandemic by low-cost measures and doesn’t need to apply costly treatment and technological measures. From April 15th to now, Vietnam only recorded two new cases of COVID-19 and the total of COVID-19 cases stands at number of 268.
As a country bordering with China, where COVID-19 was first detected, Vietnam has recorded no deaths for the pandemic. The article also quoted analysis and prediction that Vietnam’s economy with 95 million people and mainly based on export, still has signs of growth and is less impacted by COVID-19. These are results many countries are looking toward.
The article said that Vietnam’s measures coping with COVID-19 are different from measures applied by many Asian countries. Vietnam is not able to carry out COVID-19 testing for all people such as the Republic of Korea.
The key for Vietnam’s success is early response of the government since the information about the pandemic in China had not been verified clearly, and people’s spirit in strict implementation of response measures.
The article also quoted experts’ ideas of the US’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who have coordinated and supported Vietnam in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, affirmed the accurate information of the pandemic in Vietnam
Moreover, the article emphasized that while many countries are struggling in the fight against COVID-19, Vietnam has successfully prevented the outbreak of this pandemic two times. On January 16th, four days after China officially confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 virus could be transmitted from person to person, Vietnam had planned and implemented measures to prepare for the possibility of outbreak of the disease, such as requiring schools to close and closing land border gates with China.
Right from the middle of February, Vietnam has isolated some residential areas home to people returning from Wuhan and having symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
In addition, Vietnam has also paid special attention to communications and education in order to raise people's awareness about the possibility of spreading of the disease, calling people to trust and strictly implement policies and measures of the government.
According to the article, these drastic measures helped Vietnam successfully treat the first 16 cases of COVID-19 infection and then record no new cases for 22 days, from mid-February to March 6th.
On March 7th, after recording the 17th patient positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus, the government and the people of Vietnam have joined together, carried out more rapid and positive measures than before in order to isolate, treat and prevent, to the maximum extent possible, the spread of COVID-19 infection in the community. These measures have helped Vietnam maintain the lowest number of cases and have no deaths.
Currently, Vietnam is starting to ease social distance measures such as resuming domestic flights, allowing to organizing community activities with the participation of up to 20 people, and resuming passenger transportation by road and rail.
However, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc warned people not to be subjective because the pandemic is still developing complicatedly in many countries and there is no vaccine to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Along with the effective response against COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Vietnam has shared its experience of fighting the epidemic with other countries through external activities and exchanges at various levels. Vietnam has also donated necessary medical supplies, such as antibacterial face masks, to help countries to carry out necessary measures.
Finally, the article concludes that Vietnam’s COVID-19 prevention model is worthy of countries, including developed countries, to study in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic not being completely controlled./.