No new cases have also been reported in epidemic hotbeds including Bach Mai Hospital and Ha Loi Hamlet, Me Linh District in Hanoi, and Buddha Bar in Ho Chi Minh City.
At a time when the epidemic situation has seen complicated developments around the world, Vietnam’s recent achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control have received applause from international community, and the country has been hailed as an example for other countries to follow.
Accordingly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Region lauded anti-epidemic prevention efforts of Vietnam, saying that Vietnam has shown the world its effective, drastic and overall leadership at all levels while updating scenarios for each period.
These are encouraging signs which have laid the important foundation for the Government to make adjustments to the country’s strategy in the fight against COVID-19.
At a meeting of permanent Government members on April 22, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed that the country has now entered a new phase of long-term pandemic prevention while ensuring socio-economic development.
The Government leader emphasised that people absolutely must not be subjective but should remain vigilant as the risk of COVID-19 infection in the community will remain high. Lessons learnt from countries in the region and the world have shown that social subjectivity can cause the epidemic break out again and with even more damaging consequences.
According to epidemiologists, the epidemic will break out quickly without proper and drastic preventive measures, particularly when there may be potential COVID-19 cases in the community.
Although the localisation of hotbeds has been carried out in a drastic and timely manner, it is impossible to apply lockdown on a large scale of an entire city, province or the whole country. Therefore, it is important to well control small hotbeds once new small epicentres once they are found in order to “prevent a small fire from sparking into flame".
While battling against the epidemic, it is essential to resume production, business and services, and ensure socio-economic development. Therefore, in addition to following the health sector’s guidance for COVID-19 prevention and control in specific areas such as schools, offices, and industrial parks, localities and sectors must also work out detailed instructions for themselves in line with their current situation.
Localities should pay special attention to taking effective measures to prevent the epidemic from spreading in industrial parks, workplaces, lodgings and dormitories of workers and students.
Notably, it is important to ensure the health and absolute safety of students and to reassure parents that their children will be safe from coronavirus when they return to schools after the break caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Students must wear face masks correctly and classes must spray chemicals to sterilise the school every day.
Citizens must raise a high sense of responsibility for their own health and that of the community. They need to establish “new normal” practices such as compulsorily wearing of face masks in public places and maintaining a safe distance from people during regular activities, while refraining from going out or gathering in crowds. Those with fever should stay at home and consult a doctor to prevent any spreading of the virus in the community.
Through staying calm but not be negligent or subjective, it is believed that we will better control the epidemic situation, stabilise people’s living conditions, and bring life back to normal.
