UN coordinator highlights Vietnam’s strategies for successful response to COVID-19
Vietnam was ranked second for successfully handling the COVID-19 pandemic, and its contact tracing was so good it barely had to lock down, says a headline on the US-based Business Insider.
Military troops spray disinfectant in a lockdown area in the southern province of Binh Duong. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam was ranked second for successfullyhandling the COVID-19 pandemic, and its contact tracing was so good it barelyhad to lock down, says a headline on the US-based Business Insider.
The newspaper quotes a report published by thinktank TheLowy Institute in January as saying Vietnam was ranked second, behind New Zealand,out of 98 countries in their response to COVID-19.
The country has a population of 97 million people and sharedborders with China. Despite that, it has recorded fewer 2,500 cases of thenovel coronavirus and 35 deaths.
Business Insider says Vietnam had the potential to be ahotspot because of its location and population. But by using a low-cost modeland implementing basic safety measures – like washing your hands and wearing amask – it was able to contain the virus within a few months of the pandemic.
Despite sharing a border with China where the outbreakstarted, Vietnam's success story is one worth telling, it says, adding that noother country with the same size or population has contained the virus the wayVietnam has.
Kamal Malhotra, a United Nations resident coordinator inVietnam, said the country's success in handling the virus came down to threethings: contact tracing, strategic testing, and clear messaging.
“Instead of testing everyone, they tested those identifiedin contact tracing. The borders were shut down and everyone who came into thecountry was quarantined in government facilities — for free.”
The people of Vietnam are learning to live in their newnormal, but are still encouraged to social distance and wear masks.
Public health experts also told Business Insider countriesthat have limited the spread of coronavirus have a clear recipe: Create acohesive federal plan with consistent messaging, get everyone to wear masks,and implement widespread testing and contact tracing.
“The countries failing to curb their outbreaks are missingat least one of those elements.”/.
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To achieve important targets in 2021-2025, Vietnam should consider economic digitalisation key to shifting its growth model and shortly carry out a “post-COVID-19” mid-term programme in association with economic restructuring on the basis of taking advantage of opportunities brought about by free trade agreements (FTAs).
Four more COVID-19 patients in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai were declared on February 23 to have fully recovered, raising the total number of recoveries in the locality to five.
The northern province of Hai Duong – Vietnam’s biggest COVID-19 epicentre at present – should continue speeding up testing and tracing all possible contacts with confirmed cases, while carrying out flexible screening tests at high-risk areas.
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Military troops spray disinfectant in a lockdown area in the southern province of Binh Duong. (Photo: VNA)
