COVID-19 in Vietnam: A lesson of pre-preparation

• Published in: Journal of clinical virology Vol. 127; p. 104379
• Main Authors: Quach, Ha-Linh, Hoang, Ngoc-Anh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2020
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; COVID-19; Health Planning - legislation & jurisprudence; Health Planning - methods; Health Planning - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pre-preparation; Public Health - legislation & jurisprudence; Public Health - methods; Public Health - statistics & numerical data; Quarantine; SARS-CoV-2; Vietnam; Vietnam - epidemiology; Vietnam; COVID-19; Pre-preparation; Vietnam
• ISSN: 1386-6532; 1873-5967; 1873-5967
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104379

•Slowing the spread of COVID-19 was initially achieved in Vietnam.•Vietnam’s healthcare system put the precaution of COVID-19 to priority.•Intensive and expansive contact, overall isolation, and sterilization should be implemented as soon as possible.•Further measures are expected in light of different progressive scenarios of the disease. Vietnam was slowing the spread of COVID-19 to 200 cases by the end of March. From perspective of a relatively vulnerable healthcare systems, timely interventions were implemented to different stage of pandemic progress to limit the spread. The authors compiled literature on different public health measures in Vietnam in compared to the progression of COVID-19 from January to March 2020. Three stages of pandemic progression of COVID-19 were recorded in Vietnam. At 213 confirmed cases under treatment and isolation, a range of interventions were enforced including intensive and expansive contact, mass testing, isolation, and sterilization. Many were in place before any case were reported. Preparation were key for Vietnam's healthcare system in the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 pandemic.