Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said the second wave of Covid-19 infections is imminent Vietnam, referring to the experiences of other countries, according to VnExpress.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long. Photo: Vietnam News

At a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control on April 24, Deputy Minister Long said that Vietnam’s Covid -19 caseload is low but the possibility of coronavirus carriers out there should not be ruled out. The health authorities found that many infection cases are asymptomatic or show very mild symptoms. They are easy to be missed during screening, he said.

“The epidemic situation in Japan, South Korea and Singapore may happen in Vietnam, in which the second wave arrived unnoticed and people only knew about it when it becomes widespread,” Long said.

Long said that the health authority will adjust the testing scheme to better control each flight, arriving passenger, and increase the responsibility of localities in the fight against the disease. Those showing even the slightest symptom or any sign related to flu will be tested promptly. Health authorities will strengthen testing living areas of workers and vulnerable people.

Former Director of the Preventive Medicine Department under the Ministry of Health Nguyen Huy Nga told VnExpress that Vietnam is still at risk of the second Covid-19 wave. The source of the infection could be from infected people but with no obvious signs or imported. However, this risk is low.

Nga explained that Vietnam’s principles and measures to prevent and combat Covid-19 have proved effective. If infections are found in the community, the health system from the central to local levels will respond promptly. “After three months of the pandemic, awareness and prevention skills of people have been much better,” the expert added.

Nga agreed with Deputy Minister Long about the solution to increase the virus testing for all people with flu symptoms or people suspected of carrying the virus. “If there is an infection in the community, instead of large-scale lockdown, it is recommendable to isolate a few households around the patient so that the measure has little impact on the economy and society,” Nga proposed.

As of April 25, Vietnam recorded 270 confirmed cases with no deaths, of which 225 cases were cured. The country is monitoring the health of nearly 55,000 people, of them 280 are quarantined in hospitals, more than 7,000 people in concentration areas, and the remaining at home or accommodation.