Is Vietnam, the country a world first in showing that the pandemic will outlast expectation?
Vietnam has been hailed worldwide for its response to the current coronavirus pandemic, taking extremely stringent measures to ensure that not a single death has occurred whilst also preventing community infections for over three months in the midst of worldwide chaos and rising cases, yet with new non-isolated cases being confirmed firstly in Da Nang and now suspected in Hanoi, is the country a world first in showing that the pandemic will outlast expectation?
Related: Vietnam reports nine new Covid-19 cases in Hanoi and Da Nang, total 459
Many had hoped that by the summer, coronavirus would be a distant memory as well as a warning for what is to come in future pandemics, giving us insight into the necessity of abiding by the WHO guidelines and acting fast, however this changed with the prolonged epidemics within the borders of countries such as the United Kingdom, Russia, Brazil and the USA.
But, if we look at Vietnam, we see that despite the correct measures, the virus has still prevailed, and made a return to the community. The necessary measures being taken seem to provide evidence of the near future, and the need for prolonged processes of virus prevention, but also proof that the COVID-19 will likely prevail regardless, an inevitability of such an easily contractable virus.
Similar examples can be seen in New Zealand, where, despite similar border closures and strict community measures, two British citizens brought the virus back into the country when visiting under exceptional circumstances. Luckily New Zealand had prepared for this, and the virus was kept at bay and out of the community. Unfortunately for Vietnam, this is not the case. According to state media, the virus was likely carried into the country by unchecked arrivals entering the country illegally, thus evading the strict measures of testing and quarantine that have been set in place by the Vietnamese authorities.
Whilst Vietnam deals with the sudden and somewhat unanticipated return of the virus, questions are raised about the future of global travel and the return to a new normal that will involve lasting stringent measures.
Whilst the rest of the world gradually begins to open up its borders, Vietnam continues to tightly monitor anyone entering the country with the best of ability, but with the rest of the world following various different procedures depending on their own epidemiological status , does the return of community infections signal the possible inevitability of such a virus?
All evidence thus far points to this being the case, and whilst many hope for a return to pre-COVID conditions, the reality seems to be in stark contrast to such expectations.
Elliott Chapman – The author. More stories by Elliott Chapman can be founded at: http://thejusticeedition.co.uk/.
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