Top 8 Achievements of Vietnam in Dealing with the Corona Virus (Covid-19)

1. Successfully Isolating the Corona Virus - A Significant Step in Vietnam's Healthcare Efforts

Associate Professor Dr. Le Thi Quynh Mai - Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) is the overall commander of the research unit that successfully cultured and isolated a new strain of the Corona virus on February 7, 2020 - a crucial advancement in Vietnam's efforts to combat the epidemic. The official 'capture' of the virus will facilitate rapid testing for those infected and recording nCoV infections. The Ministry of Health believes this will be a prerequisite for researching and developing vaccines to prevent the Corona virus in the future, as well as improving more effective preventive measures.

According to Mr. Dang Duc Anh - Director of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, this virus was isolated from a specimen taken from a patient infected in Vietnam. Only research units with the equipment and experience could isolate the virus. Previously, Vietnam had also isolated the H5N1 avian influenza virus and developed a human avian influenza vaccine.

2. Spreading Compassion within the Community, Unity of the Vietnamese People

Previously, people knew about medical masks, disinfectant solution (hand wash) as common items to protect against smoke, dust, and maintain hygiene when going out, but no one imagined the scene of having to squeeze to buy each mask. But in the corona virus pandemic, masks, hand sanitizer became 'scarce' items that many people are willing to leave work, stand in line for hours to buy. Alongside information about drugstores arbitrarily raising mask prices for profit, there are still many beautiful images spreading in the community. These are programs distributing free masks, hand sanitizers carried out by many young groups, units to support people in dealing with the corona virus epidemic.

After the free mask distribution campaign by singer Pha Le, recently, the Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City Police, Ngoc Trong Tam Club, and many pharmacies nationwide simultaneously implemented free mask distribution to the people. At intersections, universities, colleges, hospital gates... the sign 'free mask distribution' has touched the hearts of many people. Hundreds of thousands of free masks, bottles of hand sanitizer have been handed to people along with advice to prevent the disease. In addition, to timely meet the needs of people in urgent situations, many young groups have researched and manufactured various types of hand sanitizers, provided free to people for epidemic prevention. Recently, Hue Industrial College has successfully produced dry hand sanitizer, while the Youth Union CTXH team of Ho Chi Minh City is working to manufacture disinfectant solution to serve the people.

Upholding the traditional solidarity of the nation, the Vietnamese people proactively propose many solutions to overcome the pandemic. From urban to rural areas, from the elderly to children, they have been equipped with basic knowledge to prevent the corona virus. While some countries are experiencing discrimination against Chinese people, those living in China, or those traveling from China, even if they are their compatriots, in Vietnam, from the government to the community, are spreading humane actions. The government declares 'ready to welcome compatriots back to the country' and sends a determined message through the slogan sent to every citizen 'Vietnam is determined to win the pandemic' as an affirmation of the spirit of determination. The Ministry of Health declares to pay all treatment costs for patients infected with the Corona virus, showing that no one is left behind in the epidemic situation.

Prof. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health), Deputy Head of the Treatment Subcommittee, National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Acute Respiratory Infections caused by the new strain of Corona virus (Covid-19), stated that up to now, Vietnam has successfully treated 14/16 positive cases of acute respiratory infections caused by the new strain of Corona virus (Covid-19). Although there is no specific treatment drug, Vietnam has an effective treatment protocol for Covid-19, successfully treating 2246/2576 positive cases of Covid-19.

Prof. Luong Ngoc Khue said that to cope with the epidemic, the healthcare system held an expert council meeting with leading professors. With this disease, seeing the specific characteristics compared to the previous SARS disease and the current emerging new disease, Vietnam updated treatment guidelines from the days before Tet. Afterward, Vietnam continued intensive training to implement treatment guidelines for hospitals.

'Immediately after successfully treating 3 discharged patients at Cho Ray Hospital, Khanh Hoa Tropical Hospital, and Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital, we continued to update the treatment guidelines once again, providing specific treatment strategies from initial reception guidelines, isolating patients to using the most modern means for emergency treatment for severe patients. It can be said that dealing with Covid-19, we are always ahead of the recommendations of the World Health Organization' - Prof. Khue affirmed. According to Prof. Luong Ngoc Khue, the current decentralized patient treatment at hospitals under the Ministry of Health is reasonable and effective. People can completely trust in epidemic prevention and control activities.

Perhaps, for foreign Covid-19 patients stranded in Vietnam, the days of being treated in a foreign land will be one of the most memorable moments in their lives. The dedicated, considerate, and compassionate care from the Vietnamese healthcare team has made a strong impression on Covid-19 patients from China, the UK, Brazil, France, and more during the challenging days of battling the fearsome Covid-19. 'Thank you, Vietnam' is the phrase most commonly spoken and filled with the deepest emotions that patients express to the Vietnamese doctors and the friendly country of Vietnam.

'I am very grateful for the efforts of the doctors here; they are all extraordinary people. It's wonderful, facing life and death, we are still alive,' said Mrs. Shan Coralie Barker, the wife of a 74-year-old patient with a 10-year history of blood cancer, saved from Covid-19 by the doctors at the Central Tropical Diseases Hospital. Ambassadors from various countries have sent their profound thanks to Vietnam for supporting their citizens in quarantine areas, assisting citizens in safely returning home, providing support with epidemic prevention equipment, and especially expressing admiration for the dedicated treatment provided by the Vietnamese medical team.

In Vietnam's journey of epidemic prevention, many leaders from various countries and international territories have sent letters expressing their admiration for Vietnam's epidemic prevention achievements as well as gratitude for Vietnam's material and spiritual support... 77 foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Data Center - The Union of Friendship Organizations expressed gratitude and support for the Vietnamese government for 'timely, effective, and transparent intervention in the fight against Covid-19.'

After nearly 2 months of controlling the disease, Vietnam is back on high alert following the government's confirmation of the first community transmission case in Hai Duong on January 27. Hai Duong province - where dozens of cases are reported daily - has been advised to self-isolate at home. Starting from February 16, Hai Duong province implemented social distancing across the entire province to prevent the spread of the epidemic. Immediately, Vietnam applied a series of measures such as restricting domestic and international travel, canceling many activities during the Lunar New Year. Many provinces allowed students to take a break from school to prevent the epidemic. Before the Lunar New Year, Vietnam's leaders still asserted that it would be a difficult Tet, especially ahead, but the country would surely overcome it.

Even after Tet, more stringent measures have been applied in many provinces and cities, such as closing restaurants, monuments, and limiting large gatherings. The Ministry of Health has required people to strictly implement the 5K measures in epidemic prevention (Facemask - Disinfection - Distance - No gathering - Health declaration). According to Business Insider (USA), Dr. Guy Thwaites of Oxford University (UK), who has been present at one of Vietnam's Covid-19 treatment hospitals, said: The Vietnamese government has reacted 'quickly and strongly' to the epidemic. Since the outbreak, the Vietnamese government has implemented many simple and effective epidemic prevention measures.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urges all levels and sectors to closely follow the government's directives: Be extremely cautious but not pessimistic; in implementing the dual goal of focusing on pandemic prevention, resolutely preventing its spread, and making the highest effort to achieve economic and social development goals. Vietnam, like many other economies, has been significantly affected in various sectors by the Covid-19 pandemic, but thanks to the determined involvement of the entire political system, all levels, sectors, business communities, and people nationwide, the country's socio-economic situation continues to develop stably, achieving positive results and many bright spots.

In particular, the macroeconomy remains stable, inflation is under control, and major balances of the economy are ensured; positive growth is achieved in the context of a severe global economic recession. 'The growth rate for the whole year is estimated to reach over 2%, striving for about 3%. Vietnam has the highest positive growth rate among the five major economies in Southeast Asia, being one of the 16 most successful emerging economies in the world, highly appreciated by the global community' - Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong affirmed.

Beyond effectively controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, international media also praises Vietnam for donating face masks, medical equipment, and protective gear to countries worldwide in the fight against the disease. The Vietnamese government has donated 550,000 antibacterial masks to the embassies of five European countries in Hanoi, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Additionally, Vietnam has provided masks and medical equipment to Cambodia, Laos, China, and Japan for pandemic prevention.

On May 29, 2020, the Hoa Lam Vietnam Group and GEDU International Company donated 100,000 medical masks, 10,000 pairs of gloves, and SARS-CoV-2 virus testing kits to the Investment Promotion Center of Leipzig City, Germany. The Vietnamese community abroad has tirelessly contributed to the fight against the pandemic. Vietnamese individuals worldwide have demonstrated the spirit of 'Mutual love and support,' mobilizing medical masks, sewing fabric masks, protective gloves, and donating them to local institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, healthcare centers, and police in their respective countries.

In some countries, Vietnamese restaurant owners, despite economic challenges, have selflessly cooked and provided thousands of free meals to doctors and nurses at active treatment centers, contributing to the battle against the COVID-19 respiratory illness.

The progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam is divided into 3 phases. The first phase recorded the first case on January 23, 2020, followed by cases from people returning from Wuhan, China, those entering Vietnam, and those returning from areas with outbreaks like Europe and the US. The second phase was noted from late July 2020 until now, with new cases in Da Nang and 14 other provinces and cities after 99 days without community transmission. The third phase began on January 25, 2021, with cases recorded in Hai Duong province and 12 other provinces and cities.

As of now, the country has recorded a total of 2,576 COVID-19 cases, including 1,564 locally transmitted cases (61.1%). Among the recorded cases, 2,186 have recovered (85.4%), 339 are currently under treatment (13.2%), and 35 cases have died (1.4%). In this phase, Vietnam has implemented contact tracing for potential cases, a measure praised and adopted by many countries, with high effectiveness in some technologically advanced nations.

Vietnam continues to intensify research and application of information technology, including the autonomous production of testing kits, refining treatment protocols, connecting remote healthcare facilities in COVID-19 treatment, and introducing various information technology applications in epidemic prevention.