The World Health Organization (WHO) highly appreciated Vietnam’s capacity in response to urgent public health issues, especially in dealing with the Covid-19 epidemic currently. The Government activated the response system at the early stage of the outbreak through intensifying surveillance, ensuring infection prevention and control, managing cases in healthcare facilities, enhancing laboratory testing, and promoting communication and multi-agency cooperation. These efforts have minimized the damage caused by the epidemic in Vietnam.
The Covid-19 epidemic spreads globally
The Covid-19 epidemic is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was first identified and broke out in December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
The Chinese scientists isolated the novel corona virus strain (then called 2019-nCoV by WHO) which has the same genome sequence as the previous Sars-CoV. Human-to-human transmission and a rapid outbreak in mid-January 2020 was confirmed. The incubation period of the virus is estimated to be between 2 and 14 days. The symptoms of the disease are fever, cough, difficulty breathing. The first suspected case was discovered on December 31st, 2019, the first death due to 2019-nCoV was reported in Wuhan on January 9th, 2020. In response to the epidemic outbreak, China isolated Wuhan on January 23rd, 2020; the entire public transportation system to and from was suspended. By January 24th, 2020, all provinces in China have recorded cases. Some nearby cities were also isolated. The epidemic developed rapidly and spread to many countries around the world.
As of January 24th, 2020, all provinces in China have reported infections. Some neighborhoods were isolated. The epidemic rapidly spread to many countries around the world. By March 8th, 2020I, Italy was the most infected country with the highest deaths and the government announced restrictions over entire country.
As of March 16th, 2020, according to the system of disease prevention and control (Ministry of Health), the epidemics broke out in 154 countries and territories around the world, with 169,341 cases, 6,499 deaths, 77,436 people recovered and discharged from hospital[i]. The epidemic is increasing in some countries in the world, such as South Korea, Japan, Israel, Iran.
Proactive involvement of state authorities in Vietnam
The high mobilization of human and material resources for prevention and control of disease Covid-19 in Vietnam has been considered a top priority task of the entire political system as the epidemic broke out in Wuhan (China) and when there were infections in Vietnam. The Prime Minister issued Directive No. 05/CT-TTg dated January 28th, 2020 on the prevention and control of acute respiratory disease caused by novel corona virus.
The Prime Minister issued directives and documents to request ministries, agencies to drastically prevent and control Covid-19. Gatherings are limited, all festivals are to be cancelled, schools are closed, people with suspected infection cases must be isolated, measures are applied to completely prevent infections in the in isolation facilities.
On February 4th, 2020, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to proactively deploy supportive measures to ensure input materials for manufacturing and trading equipment, materials, chemicals, bio-products, … to boost production and meet the needs of the Covid-19 disease prevention and control. The Ministry of Finance facilitates clearance of raw materials and equipment for the Covid-19 disease prevention and control.
People’s Committees of provinces and cities intensify inspection and direction of local enterprises to stabilize production; ensure the supply of medical equipment, materials for the Covid-19 disease prevention and control and; ensure the supply and control of prices of goods and necessities to serve the people in case of widespread or prolonged epidemic. The Prime Minister asked ministries, agencies, and localities and people to focus on the disease prevention and combat with the spirit of “fighting epidemics like fighting the enemy”. The entire political system should be involved. Subjective and less-focused attitude is not allowed but worry and bewilderment is not necessary.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam – the head of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 prevention and control
The Prime Minister signed the decision to set up the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 prevention and control headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.
Implementing the direction of the Government, the Prime Minister, agencies and localities at all levels seriously carry out the Covid-19 prevention and control measures. Based on WHO regulations and recommendations, Vietnam Ministry of Health has issued a Plan for response to the epidemic; strengthened the monitoring of the Covid-19 prevention and control; ensured sufficient facilities, supplies, equipment and professional and technical instructions for localities; provided Covid-19 diagnostic and treatment guidelines, applicable to all public and private health facilities nationwide; instructed methods of infection prevention: wearing masks, washing hands frequently with soap or hand sanitizer, and seek medical examination immediately after respiratory symptoms occur. In addition, the Ministry of Health has established many mobile teams to respond quickly to Covid-19 epidemic. All hospitals nationwide have plans to isolate and treat infected patients.
The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and local authorities have established field hospitals in Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, and in other localities. These field hospitals have a sufficient number of patient beds and equipment to cope with the widespread epidemic.
The land ports, especially the ones bordering with China, have been strictly controlled from the first days of reporting the epidemic. All suspected cases are isolated and monitored. All border trails and crossings are closed. The land ports, airports, seaports strictly control the entry and exit (for both people and goods), especially prohibit import and transport of wildlife into Vietnam, taking measures for strict screening and health quarantine.
On February 4th, the Ministry of Transport issued an urgent dispatch requesting the Vietnam Railway Corporation to stop international trains to China and vice versa. At the same time, the Ministry requested the Vietnam Railway Authority to direct the Vietnam Railway Corporation to intensify the detoxification and disinfection of railway and bus stations. All regular and charter licensed and unlicensed flights operated by Vietnamese and foreign airlines between Vietnam and Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and European countries were cancelled when the disease spread. Thermal scanning is carried out at international airports to strictly detect, monitor, isolate, and manage cases with suspected signs of the disease.
The Ministry of Education and Training and localities, training institutions, schools have allowed students off school after the Lunar New Year holiday to prevent the spread of disease.
In parallel with the disease prevention and control solutions, the Government, ministries, agencies and localities have strongly implemented measures to prevent profiting from the Covid-19 epidemic.
The media and communication agencies have actively and promptly joined in the disease prevention by providing timely information on the covid-19 epidemic, the danger of the epidemic spread, educating people on the disease and the spread, and promoting support and involvement of the ministries, agencies and governments at all levels in the disease prevention and control. In addition, agencies and local governments have also strengthened the detection, prevention and handling of those people who spread fake news on the disease situation. They proactively developed plans for the disease prevention and control, participated in quenching epidemics, and ensured security and social order in case of disease outbreak in the country.
By February 27th, as a result of “strong”, comprehensive measures of the Government, ministries, agencies and localities, and involvement of the people all over the country, the epidemic was under control, when all 16 confirmed cases with the Covid-19 virus were recovered and discharged from the hospital. However, later, some travellers from Europe to Vietnam were infected with the Covid-19 and the virus spread to others in the country. By March 16th, 2020, according to Ministry of Health, Vietnam had 57 cases of Covid-19 virus infection (16 cases completely cured); 268 suspected cases were isolated, closely monitored; 24,938 people who had close contacts with the infected people or travelled from the epidemic areas were under health monitoring[i].
With the spirit of “fighting epidemics like fighting the enemy”, the military is designated as the key force in the COVID-19 combat
In response to the overly complicated development of the epidemic, on March 11th, 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc gave Directive No.13/CT-TTg on promoting the Covid- 19 prevention and control in the new situation. The directive stated: “Keep well prepared, ready for any situation; uphold the spirit of “fighting against epidemics such as fighting against the enemy”; be willing to sacrifice economic benefits to protect the health and life of the people”. Ministries, agencies and localities are required to be more focused, proactively, quickly, strictly prevent, detect, and control the source of infection (both domestic infections and infections from overseas). Those people who have exposed to the confirmed Covid-19 cases are to be isolated or supervised in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Health.
The isolation facilities under close supervision of the army
Damage caused by the epidemic
Although the epidemic has shown signs of slowing down in China, it has spread quickly and complicatedly in Europe. It is impossible to predict when the epidemic will come to an end. Therefore, the global economic damage could be enormous, and Vietnam will suffer economically. The Covid-19 epidemic caused two big, serious problems, which are threats to people’s health and life in countries and disturbing global economy.
Tourism and agriculture are the most hit among the affected economic sectors in Vietnam. Reduction in tourism has caused an impact on airlines, hotel and dining services, retail. Agricultural, aquatic and seafood products were stagnating and not exported. The heavy dependence on the raw materials and accessories inputs imported from China and other countries affected by the disease (Korea, Japan), especially in the electricity – electronics sectors in Vietnam has caused severe impacts.
The Covid-19 affected production and trade of many domestic enterprises right after its outbreak and widespread in China. The Covid-19 epidemic has also directly or indirectly blocked the production and trade of many textiles, leather shoes, plastic enterprises in the South Vietnam which depend on imported materials from China. Many enterprises in the transport sector have suffered a record decrease in revenue due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Facing the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, many businesses and associations have requested the Government, ministries, agencies and localities to work out appropriate solutions to support production and trade and prevent a risk of chain collapse due to Covid-19.
Robust state management is needed to restore the economy and society immediately after the epidemic
Firstly, role of the Government, ministries, agencies and localities
In dealing with the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 epidemic for businesses and industries, the Government should develop specific strategies, such as: no easing monetary policy; requiring commercial banks to reduce lending rates; reducing logistics costs and no increasing essential services price. Commercial banks should reduce interest rates, reschedule, impose a freeze on debt repayment for those businesses and people directly affected by Covid-19.
The Ministry of Finance in collaboration with other ministries and agencies should advise the Government on tax and fee reduction and exemption policies when the announcement of the end of epidemic diseases and the recovery of the market. There should be a policy of tax exemption and reduction, extension of land rental payment schedule after the epidemic is under control; reducing land and ground rent rates for logistics and retail businesses to timely support logistics, goods preservation, boosting and increasing domestic demand during the time of the epidemic.
In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Planning and Investment should consider the import of raw materials from other markets to support domestic production to avoid disruption and stagnancy of the production chains due to over-dependence on the supply from the Chinese market. Economic groups should proactively develop their production and business plans to be active in both preventing epidemics and restoring production and business, as said by the Prime Minister: “Focusing on the dual tasks of fighting the epidemic and socio-economic development”.
Second, more involvement of the people
The fighting against the epidemics and minimizing the negative impacts of the epidemics need involvement of not only the political system from the central to grassroots levels but also all people nationwide. Agencies and socio-political organizations at all levels should communicate and disseminate widely so that people understand the real situation of the epidemic, the difficulties and advantages in the epidemic prevention and control; provide agreement, support, solidarity, creativity in the epidemic prevention and control and economic recovery. The strong attention and direction of the Government, the involvement and responsible action of the ministries, agencies and localities, and the determination of the business community and all people nationwide to overcome difficulties could control the Covid-19 epidemic soon and recover production – business activities quickly.
Thirdly, the press and communication agencies promote communication and make people understand, support, get involved in the fighting the epidemics, maintaining socio-political stability, recovering and boosting socio-economic growth.
The press and communication agencies should continue their achievements in providing accurate information of the epidemic prevention and control, making people know how to support and get involved in the epidemic prevention and control. They are required to quickly, regularly and timely provide official, public, transparent and objective information on the epidemic situation, the results of the epidemic prevention and control in Vietnam; to strengthen the communication of the proactive, comprehensive solutions defined by the Government, ministries, agencies and localities in the epidemic prevention and control, in response to unpredictable developments of the epidemics, and in dealing with difficulties and promoting production and business.
These agencies should promote good practices and initiatives in the epidemic prevention and control, especially good examples among the community in providing physical efforts and sharing material resources; awareness of disease prevention for individuals and for society as a whole; timely praise doctors and nurses who spend all day and night caring the patients. At the same time, the press should fight and “unmask” opportunists and profiteers while the epidemic is happening; criticize bad, distorted and fabricated information which causes confusion in society.
Dr. Nguyen Quang Vinh
National Academy of Public Administration
[i] http://www.suckhoedoisong.vn, retrieved March 16th, 2020.
[i] http://www.suckhoedoisong.vn, retrieved March 16th, 2020.
