{"id":1523,"date":"2020-04-16T14:56:47","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T06:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=1523"},"modified":"2020-09-14T22:06:42","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:06:42","slug":"covid-19-update-16th-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/covid-19-update-16th-april\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Distancing Policy Extended In Certain Vietnamese Cities As The Country Continues To Record More COVID-19 Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"

COVID-19 in Vietnam, update on 16th April 2020<\/h2>\n
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In the first half of April, Vietnam implemented a nationwide social distancing policy<\/strong> that ordered the shutdown of all non-essential businesses and urges citizens to stay home save for trips to groceries, pharmacies, and emergencies.<\/p>\n

The policy was expected to last from 1st April to 15th April, but seeing that there are still new COVID-19 cases being discovered \u2013 with 1 reported this morning \u2013 the government has extended the period by one more week in certain cities and provinces with high risks of infection<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the other hand, two more patients have tested negative several times in a row and have been discharged from hospitals. As of 9AM, 16th April 2020, Vietnam has recorded 268 COVID-19 cases, of whom 171 have recovered.<\/p>\n

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1 new COVID-19 case<\/h3>\n
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\nMedical staff working with patients through a barrier, measuring their temperatures and sanitizing their hands<\/em>
\nImage credit: B\u1ec7nh vi\u1ec7n \u0110a khoa H\u1ed3ng Ng\u1ecdc<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Only 1 new COVID-19 case is reported in Vietnam in the past 24 hours. The patient, known as Case 268, is a 16-year-old girl of the M\u00f4ng ethnicity living in a remote hamlet close to the border with China in the \u0110\u1ed3ng V\u0103n District, H\u00e0 Giang Province. She has 3 brothers who are freelance workers in China<\/strong>. She has now been quarantined for treatment at the \u0110\u1ed3ng V\u0103n General Hospital and is in stable condition.<\/p>\n

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2 recoveries<\/h3>\n
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\nCase 145, one of the two discharged yesterday, giving flowers to a medical worker<\/em>
\nImage credit: VNExpress<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

One of the two patients discharged in the past 24 hours was Case 145, a 35-year-old man. He returned to Vietnam from the UK on 22nd March and was quarantined on arrival. Later, upon displaying symptoms, he was moved to the C\u1ea7n Th\u01a1 Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital and was confirmed positive for the virus on 26th March.<\/p>\n

The other is Case 235, a 25-year-old man from the UK who was receiving treatment at the C\u1ee7 Chi Field Hospital in H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City. He was a customer at the Buddha Bar, a COVID-19 hotspot in H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City.<\/p>\n

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Social distancing policy extended in certain cities<\/h3>\n
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\nVietnamese people will still need to continue practicing social distancing<\/em>
\nImage credit: qdnd.vn<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nThe nationwide social distancing policy implemented from 1st to 15th April 2020, referred to as Directive 16, yielded positive results. Statistics show that in those 14 days, Vietnam only recorded 59 new COVID-19 COVID-19 cases, which represents a 60% decrease compared to the previous 2 weeks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

30 of these 59 were spotted in the first 3 days. Afterward, daily jumps have been kept to 5 or fewer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

However, seeing that the disease is yet to be fully contained, the government has decided that 12 Vietnamese cities and provinces with high risks of COVID-19 infection will continue to carry out Directive 16<\/strong> for at least another week, until 22nd April<\/strong>. This period could then be extended until 30th April depending on the situation.<\/p>\n

These 12 cities and provinces include: Hanoi, L\u00e0o Cai, Qu\u1ea3ng Ninh, B\u1eafc Ninh, Ninh B\u00ecnh, \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng, Qu\u1ea3ng Nam, B\u00ecnh Thu\u1eadn, Kh\u00e1nh Ho\u00e0, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City, T\u00e2y Ninh,<\/strong> and H\u00e0 T\u0129nh<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

15 medium-risk provinces, including Bi\u0300nh D\u01b0\u01a1ng, Tha\u0301i Nguy\u00ean, C\u00e2\u0300n Th\u01a1, Nam \u0110i\u0323nh, Ha\u0300 Nam, Ngh\u00ea\u0323 An, Ha\u0309i Pho\u0300ng, Ki\u00ean Giang, Tha\u0301i Nguy\u00ean, Th\u01b0\u0300a Thi\u00ean – Hu\u00ea\u0301, La\u0323ng S\u01a1n, An Giang, Bi\u0300nh Ph\u01b0\u01a1\u0301c, \u0110\u00f4\u0300ng Tha\u0301p, So\u0301c Tr\u0103ng, will continue to adhere to Directive 15, which bans public gatherings of more than 20 people, shuts down all non-essential businesses, and suspends public transport<\/strong>. They must also have plans to return to Directive 16 should the circumstances demand it.<\/p>\n

The remaining 36 provinces and cities of Vietnam are classified as having low risks of infection. They will continue to adhere to Directive 15 as well.<\/p>\n

Further courses of action will be decided on 22nd April.<\/p>\n

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Continuing to practice social distancing is necessary<\/h3>\n
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It\u2019s true that nobody likes to stay home for weeks on end, but reality has proven that doing so as a country is an effective way to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the complicated developments of the disease, such as the possibility of a relapse weeks after testing negative, the extension of the social distancing policy is necessary.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s all carry out the government\u2019s instructions for now, and hopefully we can rejoice soon when the ordeal is over.<\/p>\n

For more COVID-19 stories, check out:<\/p>\n