The second Covid-19 wave is concerned to arrive posing a headache for the health system.

After initial success, Japan and Singapore struggle with the second wave of coronavirus infections. Both countries had been praised for their initial efforts. Therefore, Vietnam authorities are concerned that the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic may arrive, posing a headache for the health system.

Tarah Nguyen

April 27, 2020 | 00:00

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the second covid 19 wave is concerned to arrive posing a headache for the health system

The first wave of outbreak hasn't finished yet, the second wave is concerned to start soon by scientists. Photo: Reuters

As authorities the world over consider when to lift economy-crippling movement restrictions aimed at curbing coronavirus infections, the fear on everyone’s minds can be expressed in two words: second wave. The concern is that, once quelled, the pandemic will resurface with renewed strength, causing a repeat of rising infections, swamped health systems and the necessity of lockdowns.

Wuhan, China – The city’s 11 million residents are attempting to return to normal life and business after a 76-day lockdown as the original epicenter of the novel coronavirus. But, its resident said “a second wave is ‘absolutely’ coming“. CNN reported.

They did almost everything right and were praised for it even by the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighting their approach to controlling the coronavirus outbreak. But they might have let their guard down far too soon.

The concern is that, once quelled, the pandemic will resurface with renewed strength, causing a repeat of rising infections, swamped health systems and the necessity of lockdowns. eBloombrg reported.

How about Vietnam?

Vietnam has recorded the total 270 infections, 255 of them confirmed recovered up to now. Vietnam has gone 11 consecutive days without any new cases inside the country. But, 5 cases were confirmed positive again for SARS-CoV-2.

The Government has agreed a day earlier to relax social distancing measures in the nation’s two biggest cities, Hochiminh City and Hanoi, fueling hopes that the economy hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic would recover in coming months

But, over the past few days, thousands of Vietnamese are returning home and hundreds of foreign experts back to work from coronavirus hard hit countries, such as China, Japan, Italy, South Korea…

As a result, Vietnam just reported two new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 270. The two cases were Vietnamese students who flew from Japan and arrived at Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province on April 22.

At a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control on April 24, Deputy Minister Long said that Vietnam’s Covid -19 caseload is low but the possibility of coronavirus carriers out there should not be ruled out. The health authorities found that many infection cases are asymptomatic or show very mild symptoms. They are easy to be missed during screening, he said.

“The epidemic situation in Japan, South Korea and Singapore may happen in Vietnam, in which the second wave arrived unnoticed and people only knew about it when it becomes widespread,” Long said.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long spoke in the meeting (Photo: chinhphu)

Long said that the health authority will adjust the testing scheme to better control each flight, arriving passenger, and increase the responsibility of localities in the fight against the disease. Those showing even the slightest symptom or any sign related to flu will be tested promptly. Health authorities will strengthen testing living areas of workers and vulnerable people.

Former Director of the Preventive Medicine Department under the Ministry of Health Nguyen Huy Nga told VnExpress that Vietnam is still at risk of the second Covid-19 wave. The source of the infection could be from infected people but with no obvious signs or imported. However, this risk is low.

Nga explained that Vietnam’s principles and measures to prevent and combat Covid-19 have proved effective. If infections are found in the community, the health system from the central to local levels will respond promptly. “After three months of the pandemic, awareness and prevention skills of people have been much better,” the expert added.

Nga agreed with Deputy Minister Long about the solution to increase the virus testing for all people with flu symptoms or people suspected of carrying the virus. “If there is an infection in the community, instead of large-scale lockdown, it is recommendable to isolate a few households around the patient so that the measure has little impact on the economy and society,” Nga proposed.

As report from VNS, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has also requested preparing for the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

According to the Prime Minister, the pandemic remains at a dangerous level and could break out again anytime, that’s why ministries, agencies and localities must continue following the PM’s Directive No 16 on social distancing more strictly.

The PM also proposed establishing a group of medical experts to monitor the situation and offer suggestions to the Steering Committee and the Government.

Further attention should be paid to help Vietnamese people, especially the vulnerable, young people and patients stranded abroad, to return home, he said, adding that the Government had outlined a scheme to tackle difficulties facing the poor as well as step up public capital investment.

Though COVID-19 had resulted in economic losses, it also offered opportunities. Therefore, departments and people should renew working methods, develop new services, especially using information technology for the development of digital Government and economy, production and export of preventive medicine goods for major markets such as Europe and the US, he said.

As of April 25, Vietnam recorded 270 confirmed cases with no deaths, of which 225 cases were cured. The country is monitoring the health of nearly 55,000 people, of them 280 are quarantined in hospitals, more than 7,000 people in concentration areas, and the remaining at home or accommodation

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