Normal life of Vietnamese a dream of many

In the new normal context, visitors to Hoi An are exempted from fees to all the local tourist sites. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam ranks the 156th out of the countries and territories in terms of the number of infection cases, and is one of the 30 countries and territories that record no fatalities of COVID-19. Those figures are significant as its population numbers nearly 100 million, the 15th largest in the world.

Children are happily going to school, people everywhere busy with their work, shops reopened, streets full… It can be said that throughout Vietnam, the life of ever people has returned to normal.

June 15 marks two full months in which Vietnam has not seen any community COVID-19 infection cases. The normal life of the Vietnamese now is a dream of many other countries in the world as they are having to cope with the pandemic which is evolving in a complex way.

Two months free of COVID-19 in community

According to statistics of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, also in the period under review, the number of COVID-19 infection cases in the world is increasing unceasingly, from about 2 million to nearly 8 million, while that of fatalities has topped 433,000 from 135,000.

The world has seen 16 countries recording more than 100,000 infection cases, 59 over 10,000, and 122 others more than 1,000.

Vietnam ranks the 156th out of the countries and territories in terms of the number of infection cases, and is one of the 30 countries and territories that record no fatalities of COVID-19. Those figures are significant as its population numbers nearly 100 million, the 15th largest in the world.

Speaking to the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam stressed that the normal life and activities of the Vietnamese now is a dream of many other countries in the world, and attributed he success to the leadership of the Party and the State as well as the involvement of the whole political system, especially the physicians, the army, the police and many other relevant forces.

Right at the initial information on the disease, the government and the Prime Minister instructed the health authorities to work out plans against the pandemic on the basis of the experience gained from the previous ones.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam was a country that had worked out measures earlier and higher for one step compared to recommendations of international organisations. It was also the first country in the world to apply the compulsory health declaration on those entering from pandemic-hit regions, and the measures later won high valuation from international organisations and friends.

Tremendous efforts to treat heavy patients

By now, 323 out of the 334 patients or 97 percent of the total COVID-19 cases in Vietnam have been successfully treated and discharged from hospital. Their average treatment last for more than 20 days. Among the 50 foreign patients, 49 have been treated, and the only now under treatment is Patient 91, a 43-year-old British pilot.

The recovery of Patients 19 and 91 is described as a miracle created by unceasing efforts of Vietnamese physicians who have brought them from the verge of death back to normal life.

Patient 19 when discharged from hospital.

The conditions of the two, at points of time, seemed hopeless with their lungs damaged up to 90 percent. The heart of Patient 19 even ceased working for 40 minutes, while the health conditions of Patient 91 were a focus of attention not only in Vietnam but also the whole world.

Critically-ill Patient 91 being treated. (Photo: Cho Ray Hospital)

Associate Professor Luong Ngoc Khue, deputy head of the treatment sub-committee of the National Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, admitted that there were points of time in which doctors appeared pessimistic on Patient 91, but his magical recovery created source of encouragement to them.

About the time to come, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam stressed that the risks remain huge, describing Vietnam as a pool while the water level outside is much higher and rains still keep falling. “We must keep the door firm but this does not mean an extreme closure. We must ensure safety while realising the dual goals,” he stressed./.