Collection of samples for the COVID-19 test in Da Nang (Center). Photo: Le Lam /VNA /CVN

According to the article, the effective management of Vietnam's first wave of COVID-19 received praise from everyone. The country confirmed its first two cases on January 232020 and had around 350 cases in total as of the end of June. With timely measures, the country has managed to stem the spread of the pandemic and, most importantly, to record no deaths.
This was indeed a significant achievement given that Vietnam shares a long land border with China and Chinese ships and ships very frequently encroach on its exclusive economic zone and territorial waters. Vietnam is a model country for its response to the coronavirus. He took a number of initiatives early on and understood the nature of the challenge in viewing the pandemic as an enemy of humanity whose spread needed to be contained.
Evacuation of 80000 visitors to Da Nang
The country has closed its borders, applied social distancing measures and set up quarantine centers. He carried out rigorous research and control of contacts of persons infected with 2 ^e , 3 ^e and 4 ^e levels. He instituted stringent quarantine policies. As soon as China reported its first coronavirus death, Vietnam immediately implemented systematic health checks at its airports and the body temperatures of all visitors were monitored. The country suspended all its flights with China without delay and was quick to do the same with all international flights. The granting of visas has also been stopped. The identification of epidemic foci and the implementation of the necessary measures to isolate them also started very early.
Like other countries, Vietnam too suffered a second wave of COVID-19. After 99 days without any new cases of infection, the virus reappeared on July 252020 in Da Nang, a very touristy coastal town in the center of the country after which the epidemic quickly spread to several cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In mid-September, 1059 people were affected, of which 35 were killed. Even so, these figures remain insignificant compared to those in other countries.
The Vietnamese government has taken a radical decision to evacuate the 80000 tourists to Da Nang. The city has also carried out large-scale sterilization campaigns and tightened movement controls.
She also enforced social distancing measures across the city and built a 500-bed field hospital to receive patients with the virus.
As in the first wave, the cooperation of the locals, encouraged through an awareness program, has been a decisive factor in the country's success. Vietnamese citizens have been urged to inform authorities if they suspect any of their neighbors of having contracted the disease. Instructions from the Vietnamese government to residents of Hanoi to self-isolate at their homes have been strictly enforced.
All citizens and the business community have done their best to prevent the spread of the virus and have found innovative ways to fight the pandemic. In Da Nang, authorities and citizens jointly prepared a digital "infection map" so residents know which hotspots to avoid and the nearest medical facilities.
Difficult tasks to overcome

Awareness of the fight against COVID-19 in Dien Bien (North). Photo: Tuan Anh /VNA /CVN

Vietnam's successful handling of the epidemic so far has demonstrated that good preparedness is effective in dealing with infectious diseases and protecting people.
Factors responsible for this success include massive testing, tracing of contact cases through smartphone apps, effective public awareness campaigns, citizen engagement, and addressing all aspects of the negative impact of the pandemic. on the society. It can be concluded that Vietnam has relied on its experience in the fight against SARS to develop a comprehensive plan against the pandemic. The number of deaths and those infected suggests that the authorities have been transparent in their statements.
The case of Vietnam is an example from which we should learn lessons. The pandemic can only be defeated through massive testing at three levels, strict isolation of patients and precautionary measures respected by citizens.
However, Vietnam still faces some tricky tasks. The war on COVID-19 is not over yet. Therefore, the country must continue its efforts. As it shares a border with China, Laos and Cambodia, a greater effort must be made in controlling illegal immigrants who may bring the virus there. When a vaccine becomes available, its distribution will also require prior preparation.
At the same time, the need to enhance the ability to detect early. The data collected to date should be used for this task which requires international cooperation. The negative economic effects of the pandemic must be addressed, especially on small and medium-sized businesses. Poor and vulnerable households are also severely affected and adequate social protection measures should be put in place to support them.
The tourism sector will also need to be assisted in the post-COVID-19 period. At the same time, Vietnam is expected to make itself attractive for companies wishing to leave China and Hong Kong. We hope that Vietnam, with its vast experience in combating pandemics, will be able to successfully meet all the challenges mentioned above.
S. D. Pradhan /CVN