The British pilot meet his colleges at Vietnam Airline on the day he was released from hospital. (photo: VNA)

The recovery of a British pilot, known as Patient 91, put a spotlight on Vietnam because he was the most seriously ill person treated for Covid-19 in Vietnam. He was released from a Ho Chi Minh City hospital on Saturday and returned to Britain after 4 months in hospital, including 10 weeks on life support.

The Guardian said Vietnam has had no Covid-19 deaths because it responded quickly and effectively.

Sky News TV said that for the past 3 months Vietnam has seen no new infections in the community. All reported cases were imported. People coming from abroad underwent medical exams and were placed in quarantine.

The Daily Mail on Saturday reported that Vietnam still has a perfect score. Despite bordering China, Vietnam’s death toll has remained at zero, with just over 300 cases.

A Reuters article with the headline “Virus-free UK pilot, symbol of Vietnam's pandemic success, to return home” said that Vietnam’s most seriously ill Covid-19 patient, who at one point seemed close to death, left the hospital on Saturday on his way home after a dramatic recovery. USA Today praised Vietnam’s Covid-19 measures.

The recovery of Patient 91 and his trip home was covered by CBC.ca, AP, The Washington Post, the New York Times, and many other news agencies.