Representative in Vietnam speaks at the meeting in Hanoi on July 27 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The recent detection of new local infections of
COVID-19 has proved the efficiency of Vietnam’s communicable disease
surveillance system, according to WHO Representative in the country Kidong
Park.
With a good surveillance system, it will not be
a surprise that more cases of community transmission will be recorded in the
time ahead, he said during a meeting between the National Steering Committee for
COVID-19 Prevention and Control and international organisations in Hanoi on
July 27.
He spoke highly of Vietnam’s system for
coronavirus prevention and control, which has swiftly quarantined, monitored
and traced confirmed cases, suggesting the application of social distancing,
public health measures and restriction of mass gatherings for a long period of
time.
Park also valued the national steering committee
and the local health sector’s transparency and timeliness in sharing
information, which have built and enhanced people’s trust in the COVID-19
fight.
The WHO Representative also said he respects the
decision to repatriate Vietnamese citizens from pandemic-hit regions, including
a flight to bring home 200 citizens from Equatorial Guinea with about 120 of
them positive for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and another with over 100
infection cases from Uzbekistan, adding that the move demonstrates the
humanitarian policy and timely attention of the Vietnamese Government.
The number of infections may surge in the time
ahead, but it will not affect the country’s previous achievements in the
pandemic prevention and control, according to him.
He also expressed his confidence in Vietnam’s
response plans in case of widespread transmission, saying the WHO will continue
standing side by side with the country to deal with challenges caused by this
pandemic.
At the meeting, other international
organisations hoped Vietnam to continue sharing information about mutations of
SARS-CoV-2, the use of test kits and its treatment regimens.
Appreciating their support for the coronavirus
combat, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the national steering
committee, called on international organisations to keep assisting the country
in the production of test kits and vaccines and the updating of gene mutations
and new strains of the virus.
He stressed that Vietnam will continue working
closely with WHO and other international organisations in the COVID-19 fight.
The number of cases in Vietnam now
stands at 431, including 11 new locally infected cases reported on July 27
evening. A patient confirmed in central Da Nang city on July 25 was the first
local infection of the coronavirus after 99 straight days without community
transmission in the country./.
Source: VietnamPlus
