Unforeseen and unpredictable: Vietnam reports first COVID-19 death

Preparing for the unpredictable becomes the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. After winning applause for successfully curbing the deadly virus for months, Vietnam recorded its first COVID-19 fatality, in a devastating blow to its proud zero fatality.

The 70-year old man was from the central city of Hoi An, who appears to have contracted disease in Danang, died on Friday, the official Vietnam News Agency(VNA) said.

Unlike many other countries, Vietnam acted before it even had confirmed cases, closing its borders early to almost all travellers, except returning citizens. Anyone entering the country must quarantine in government facilities of 14 days and undergo testing.

The country received plaudits for both its timely efforts to contain the virus and for the care it was able to offer a Scottish pilot who spent two months in a coma after getting infected with covid-19.

And for a while, this approach appeared to be highly effective, with no new local transmissions till April.

The country of 96 million had gone 100 days without infection before an unexpected cluster of new cases surfaced in the central and popular resort city of Danang a week ago.

Vietnam’s health ministry on Friday reported 45 new infections in the city, marking the Southeast Asian country’s biggest single day jump.

The 45 new patients, aged between 27 and 87, are linked to three hospitals and two clinics in Danang, according to the health ministry.

The capital Hanoi, has started mass coronavirus testing, shut bars and nightclubs , banned large gatherings and urged tens of thousands of domestic travellers to report to authorities as the country is fiercely trying to contain the fresh spread of the virus as quickly as possible.

A task force including 65 health experts were made and the authorities are building a 1000-bed field hospital to ease the burden on the city’s hospitals.

The newly confirmed infections in Danang have lifted the total number of cases in Vietnam to 509.