HOW VIETNAM TACKLE THE CORONA PANDEMIC?

Vietnam has managed to save everyone and no deaths from covid19 have been reported in Vietnam as being a very long border about 1444 km with China. How did such a small country with very limited medical facilities tackle the problem?.

Vietnam has a very long history of war. As early as the virus started in Wuhan China in mid-December 2019, the Vietnam government was aware and serious about it. They knew that if that virus explodes they didn't have enough medical facilities and enough hospitals for treating the people and it would explode devastating the whole country.  They being a communist government declared a war against the virus and had worked out various plans in case the disease outbreaks. They followed the tactics similar to real war much earlier than the rest of the world was just wondering even the virus was dangerous or not, it will come to their countries or not and seriousness was neglected by most of the developed countries.

When the first case was reported in Vietnam on January 23, it was taken very seriously by the Vietnamese government and they decided to seal the border with China immediately and announced measures to prevent and counter the spread of the disease. The government warned citizens not to visit the affected area with COVID outbreaks.

On Jan 24 the Vietnamese administration canceled all to and fro flights from Wuhan China. The tourism company too canceled all the tours to or with transit in Wuhan. In early February 2020, the government suspended all schools across Vietnam until the end of March as a part of countermeasures to stop the spreading of the virus. This was extended up to mid-April and till further notice again.

On Feb 13 Vietnam government put an entire area of Vinh Phuc province under isolation for 21 days concerned by the health status of migrant workers who returned from Wuhan china. That time only 10 covid19 cases were confirmed in the entire country.

The government formulated strict quarantine policies and carried out a complete tracing of the people who came in contact with the people with the virus. They also kept track of second, third and fourth levels of contact with infected persons.  All of those people were placed under successively stringent levels of movement and contact restrictions. Authorities also widely documented anyone who came in contact with the virus.

Anyone arriving at Vietnam from risk areas was compulsorily quarantined for 14 days.

From the starting of February 2020, Vietnam started mass public information campaigns and mandated that people wear facemasks at crowded places and public transport.

From early March, the Vietnam government advised everyone to self-isolate at home. The government suspended all visas and tourist visits in the country for time being. They announced restrictions on mass gatherings. All the outdoor activities centers like bars, cinemas, massage parlor, gaming centers, etc were asked to shut down. Domestic travels through trains, roads, and all international travels were shut down. The government also asked several religious organizations to cancel religious festivals, activities, and conferences that may attract large crowds.

Only factories, businesses and service establishments producing and providing essential goods are allowed to remain open but must follow strict health guidelines as per the government.

Strict public surveillance is maintained with the help of military and security officials.

Neighborhood watch is followed since only a neighbor knows if someone came from outside. As Vietnam is a single-party state, with large and well-organized military services, it has been able to make decisions quickly and enact them promptly. There is also a strong culture of surveillance, with people expected to inform on their neighbors if they suspect any wrong-doing.

With people being self-disciplined and self-aware Vietnam has been able to combat this deadly virus with no record of single death till now.