Hanoi (VNA) – The development of COVID-19 in the world remains complicated with over 4.5 million people infected, including more than 330,000 fatalities.
Vietnam has so far recorded 314 COVID-19 cases, including 260 recoveries and there is zero death. The country’s achievements in the fight against COVID-19 have been internationally recognised.
The disease has been basically pushed back
At 12:00 on May 14, the quarantine area in Dong Cuu hamlet, the last of its kind in Hanoi, was unlocked. This means there is no community outbreak across the country at present.
As of May 16, the country had gone through 30 consecutive days without new local transmissions. Among the total 314 infections, 174 were imported and quarantined upon arrival.
To date, the disease at home has been basically pushed back. However, we should not lower guard but must resolutely prevent the pandemic’s resurgence.(Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc)
Despite facing a lot of difficulties and challenges in the context of the complicated developments of COVID-19 in the globe, Vietnam has basically contained the disease and prevent its transmission among the community thanks to the drastic and effective direction of the Government as well as the high determination and consensus of the whole political system and people, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The triumph in the disease prevention at this moment is crucial, demonstrating the strong determination and will of the whole Party and army and the support of the people nationwide, he went on.
However, cabinet members said besides favourable factors, in the coming time Vietnam will continue to encounter numerous difficulties and challenges, especially when the pandemic is still developing complicatedly and unpredictably in the world. The number of infections and fatalities remain high in many countries, requiring all departments, relevant sectors and localities to keep high guard, striving to prevent the disease from resurging.
The key task at present is to promote business production and to boost growth as well as to address employment and to ensure life for people, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Striving to prevent external sources of infection
The country has entered a new period of preventing the disease, according to permanent Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long. Currently each day, Vietnam tests about nearly 2,000 samples and so far 2750,000 samples have been tested, with 288 cases found, mainly at quarantine establishments. The Ministry of Health said the risk of community transmissions is low.
Vietnam still continues taking measures to prevent the external sources of infection. All those who enter Vietnam must be quarantined at concentrated quarantine areas for 14 days and have samples tested twice. The monitoring and early detection system in the community has been maintained to zone off the outbreak areas and stamp them out immediately. The pandemic response capacity will be continuously enhanced, especially the medical staff, he said.
“Vietnam still continues taking measures to prevent the external sources of infection.” (Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long)
Vietnam has proactively produced a lot of medical equipment and medicines at home. The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control is focusing on coordinating prevention activities of ministries, relevant departments and localities, Long said.
In the long-term strategy, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said Vietnam will continue applying strict management of people entering the country to ensure safety and realise the dual tasks of preventing the disease and reviving socio-economic development.
Forces in the front lines of the battle such as the health, military and public security sectors must always stand ready. The health sector will continue studying vaccine, medicines, treatment regimen and e-health record, while the military and public security sectors will continue strictly monitoring entrance in the country and implement concentrated quarantine measures, he added.
Reliable address for investors
Over the past time, the international media has praised Vietnam for successfully curbing the disease and returning to normal. Many insiders described Vietnam as a reliable address for investors post-pandemic.
Chief Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Vietnam Kidong Park expressed his impression on Vietnam’s prompt and effective measures against COVID-19.
He said Vietnam grasped information quickly. He wants to spend time analysing and collecting Vietnam’s lessons and experience in the fight against COVID-19 to share with the international community.
He added that he feels safe while working and living in Vietnam. He and many international experts spoke highly of Vietnam’s close coordination and information sharing about COVID-19 prevention activities, including data about the number of infections, recoveries and there is no death.
However, he added that as there is no vaccine against COVID-19, the pandemic is forecast to prolong for months or even years. Vietnam should still maintain high vigilance to prevent the risk of community transmissions, he advised.
Foreign experts recommended Vietnam strengthen efforts to contain the disease and prevent the external sources of infection.
On April 1, 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Decision 447/QD-TTg declaring national COVID-19 epidemic.
In April 2020, the Government promulgated many documents directing measures against COVID-19.
The Prime Minister’s Directive 19/CT-TTg issued on April 24, 2020, on continuously implementing measures against COVID-19 in the new situation which allow the relaxation of restriction measures and resumption of socio-economic activities based on the good control of the disease, especially in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and urban areas./.