Vietnam’s experience in preventing the spread of COVID-19 is now studying in many countries around the world. How did a country with very average incomes manage to show such an outstanding result?

Previous epidemic experience

Vietnam’s strategy for overcoming epidemics is to involve people in the fight against the spread of infection. Throughout the outbreak, residents are informed of the risks of being infected and how to prevent contamination. The population engagement makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of municipal organizations and public security services in preventing the disease spread.

Officials coordinate the efforts of society and involve the military to achieve the best result.

According to this scheme, Vietnam did not allow the country to develop epidemics of measles, Dengue fever, SARS, and swine flu.

Limit the virus entering

The COVID-19 pandemic began in China, a neighbouring country of Vietnam.

On January 10, 2020, China announced the first death from COVID-19. The next day, Vietnam began testing all visitors from China for COVID-19. Mandatory quarantine was introduced for visitors from countries at high risk of infection.

These measures have saved some time to develop a strategy to fight the epidemic and to deploy coordination and anti-epidemic services. The first case inside the country was registered only on January 23.

Restrictive measures began to introduce in February and March. All flights to China and other high-risk countries were suspended. A mandatory quarantine was established for all who are crossing the Vietnamese borders. And at the end of March, all foreign citizens were banned from entering the country.

Stop the virus spread

The efforts to prevent the spread of infection should be aimed at identifying cases of the disease and isolating them.

Initially, tests for COVID-19 were done only for people with characteristic symptoms. Soon, however, the range of testing was extended. We also checked everyone before and after the quarantine. We tested people visiting places with a high risk of infection, such as markets and industrial enterprises. As a result, by the end of April, almost 1000 tests were conducted for one confirmed case. For comparison, in Taiwan or New Zealand, this figure was about 150.

Detection of infection cases has become a national initiative. In addition to state medical institutions, Newspapers, television, and the population were involved. Not only those in straight contact with COVID-19 but also the 2nd and the 3rd line of communications were checked for the virus presence. Newspapers and television spread information about the location of these contacts so that people could avoid meeting them.

Isolation is another essential component of preventing the virus spread. All schools were closed in January. In February, a local quarantine was introduced in a 10,000-strong settlement due to the discovery of seven cases of COVID-19. In April, the work of all non-key enterprises was suspended.

Public awareness and social responsibility

The extensive use of mobile communications, internet, and social networks has allowed vital information to be delivered to everyone.

Mass mailings to mobile phones, mass mailings of messages in social networks, and websites with questions and answers encouraged people to resist the virus by taking preventive measures. There was even a song recorded about the benefits of hygiene, which became a hit on Youtube.

Traditional methods of informing were also used: street posters, loudspeakers, and media reports.

Thus, information about the risks of infection and prevention measures was communicated to all categories of people.

Reached result

According to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, the total number of cases in Vietnam was 369 people on July 15, 2020. No fatalities were recorded. Over the past 3 months, there have been no cases of infection within the country, only imported ones.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the economic consequences for Vietnam be less than for other states in the region. Strict restrictive measures at the beginning of the epidemic and their early cancellation made that real.

All businesses are now operating. Schools have been open since the beginning of May. Vietnamese citizens continue to wear masks and maintain social distance.

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