Vietnam: Authorities confirm first COVID-19 fatalities July 31 /update 31

Event

Vietnam's health ministry reported the country's first two coronavirus disease (COVID-19) deaths on Friday, July 31. Vietnam had gone 100 days without any locally transmitted COVID-19 cases before an outbreak was reported in Da Nang earlier this week. Both of Friday's fatalities were linked to this outbreak. The health ministry also reported 82 new infections on Friday, 26 of which were imported, which is the highest number of cases reported in a single day.

Movement into and out of Da Nang was restricted on Monday, July 27, following the identification of the outbreak. Apart from outbound flights of some 80,000 mostly domestic tourists back to their home cities, all other flights from Da Nang International Airport (DAD) have been suspended for at least 15 days. Those returning home from Da Nang will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. Additionally, all public transportation, including trains, buses, and taxis, are restricted from entering and leaving the city. Residents in most of the city's districts have been advised to remain at home unless absolutely necessary. A ban of gatherings of more than two people in public will also be in effect until further notice.

In response to the outbreak in Da Nang, on Thursday, July 30, Hanoi banned large gatherings in the capital and shut bars and nightclubs. Street food stalls and karaoke lounges will close from midnight on Friday. Supermarkets and restaurants have been permitted to remain open, providing they implement social-distancing measures.

The Vietnamese government adopted strong lockdown measures early in the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a low number of cases compared to other countries in the region. International commercial flights to Vietnam are banned, and Vietnam's borders with China, Cambodia, and Laos remain closed to all but essential traffic. Visa waivers and the issuing of new visas have been suspended, although foreign experts and skilled workers may enter provided they undergo mandatory quarantine measures, lasting at least 14 days, and pass certain requirements. Exemptions are judged on a case-by-case basis.

As of July 31, 546 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Vietnam. Further international spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the general risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.