Health officials collect samples for COVID-19 testing in Hai Duong province, Vietnam's COVID-19 hotspot. (Photo: VNA)

A recent article said Vietnam’s past experience with epidemic preparedness and response measures may have led to greater willingness by the people of Vietnam to comply with a general public health response.

In the wake of the epidemic, Vietnam increased investments in its public health infrastructure, including developing a national public health emergency operations center and a national public health surveillance system, the article said.

When community transmission was detected, the government reacted quickly with contact tracing, commune-level lockdowns, and widespread local testing to ensure no cases were missed.

The article noted that one noteworthy aspect of Vietnam’s approach is that it identified and quarantined suspected cases based on their epidemiological risk of infection, not whether they exhibited symptoms. Preventing transmission to health care workers and subsequently back into the community was another important containment strategy.

Even before the first cases in Vietnam were confirmed, Vietnam took the first of many steps to close public revenues and limit mobility for citizens and international travelers. Vietnam has contained the epidemic while keeping its economy open enough to grow, the article said, adding that no country of a size similar to Vietnam has had as much success in fighting COVID-19.