COVID-19: Rise in Vietnam’s locally transmitted, importance of social distancing stressed

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Being aware of the testing stations coming into operation in Hanoi, the morning of April 1 saw plenty of people flock to get tested. Photo: VOV

They include two employees of the Truong Sinh Co. Ltd, which provides services for the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital, a patient who used to visit Bach Mai hospital for medical check-up, and three returning Vietnam from Germany, Russia and Japan.

To date, 63 COVID-19 patients have recovered, 54 have tested negative once and 43 have tested negative twice.

As the virus continues to spread across the world, there is “strong evidence” that safe distancing is a very important measure to stop and slow down the transmission.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 31 issued a strict order on social distancing, starting April 1. People are requested to stay at home and should only go outside for “essential needs,” such as food, medicines, urgent medical services or to go to work at the facilitites permitted by the government to remain open.

Gatherings of more than two people outside schools, hospitals or workplaces are banned.

People must keep a distance of at least two meters between each other.

Public transportation is suspended, travel between provinces are limited, and travel from epidemic areas to other localities is banned, except for special reasons.

However, social distancing is not a blockade order as businesses, involving trade in "essential" goods and services are still open; factories are still in operation and are required to maintain safe distances, disinfect premises and employees must wear masks to prevent infection; employees of state and government offices and agencies can work from home; and private vehicles are allowed to move between nearby provinces when really necessary.

As a result of the increasingly complicated situation surrounding the COVID-19 epidemic, Hanoi set up 10 quick COVID-19 testing stations on March 31, all of which use test kits produced by South Korea. The facilities can be found in four districts around the capital, namely Thanh Oai, Dong Da, Ba Dinh, and Hai Ba Trung.

Priority is given to citizens who visited Bach Mai Hospital – a cluster of recently confirmed COVID-19 cases - between March 10 and March 28 and those living nearby.

The number of confirmed cases linked to the hospital has to date increased to over 20 and it is expected to keep rising as more than 5,000 patients and their relatives have been sent to their homes in northern and central provinces.

In Ho Chi Minh city, the Center for Diseases Control recommends that people who used to go to Buddha Bar from March 13 to 17 must report immediately medical facilities.

As announced in previous newsletters, a party held at Buddha bar (7 Thao Dien Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2) on March 14, has been identified as a COVID-19 cluster with 15 cases including 11 cases with the bar and 4 cases of infection due to subsequent exposure.

Although 14 days have passed since the last time went to Buddha Bar. These cases are not voluntarily declared, when detected at any time, they must be handled according to the regulations of law.

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