I can’t help but feel partly responsible for the unfortunate news in this article. Through galactic-sized Karma meets cosmic conscience, I’ve jinxed an entire nation. My previous post, Dragon Diaries – Living in a Nation that Beat the Virus, discussed Vietnam’s successes in defeating the novel Coronavirus with my first-hand experiences, ups, and downs in living through that process. However, there was something I did not know. As I was finalizing the editing, and preparing to publish, a battle was waging a few miles away at a hospital in Da Nang.
Within hours of the article going live, the Vietnamese authorities announced the first community case of Covid-19 in 100 days. Patient # 416, and in the city we currently live in. Immediately the pandemic protocols were reinstated. With International flights preparing to resume in August, the airport immediately closed indefinitely. Mass testing has gone into full effect, mask ordinances have been reissued, and temperature checks at all building entrances have been re-established.
Lock Down Looms
My wife Diem received word this morning that we had until 1 pm Sunday, July 26, to prepare. We went to the Costco-style Mega Market in Da Nang in the morning. We made purchases to fill the freezer with meat and stock up on staples like noodles, frozen vegetables, and seasonings. As I am writing this sentence, the 1 o’clock shutdown is less than thirty minutes away.
The initial order is for 15 days, but we know how that could change at a moment’s notice. Da Nang will be shut off from the rest of Vietnam. Social distancing measures are now in effect nationwide, but Da Nang will bear the brunt of the protocol.
Patient # 416
Many may think this is an overreaction. It may be. But it’s the nature of the infection that has authorities very concerned. Patient # 416 is a 57-year-old retired male living with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren in Lien Chieu District of Da Nang. He has not left Da Nang in several months. And hasn’t left Vietnam since a time so far back it wasn’t reported.
Only diplomats and specialists in medical and other essential industries have been allowed entrance since late March. But only after undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine at a military camp. Within hours of the man’s first positive result, and they have five, contact tracing began. Over 50 people who had come in contact with the individual were in quarantine by the close of Saturday. Over 100 peripheral individuals were additionally tested.
The authorities believe the infection may be linked to a rash of Chinese nationals who have entered Vietnam illegally. Coming in either by boat or wilderness border areas. In July alone, dozens of illegal Chinese have been picked up in Da Nang after raids on Hotels, guest houses, and resorts. Often coming to trade goods through their dried-up import channels, or to gamble at the many casinos in Da Nang. The illegal entries only add to the difficulties in contact tracing and controlling the infection.
Quarantine Protocol
I have found this to be a highly effective form of controlling the spread of infection, and something Vietnam excels in. They have a category system. I likened it to the American tornado rating system, mostly because of the similarities in the numbering. The system goes from F0 to F5. F0 is like ground zero. It will be the designation of the individual diagnosed and testing positive for Covid-19. F1 will be a person exposed to an F0. F2 individuals exposed to an F1 and so forth.
What we saw with the earlier wave, the authorities will issue a quarantine order up to specific categories. Due to only one case being confirmed through five positive tests, quarantine is currently at a low level of F1. Meaning that anyone who fits the criteria for an F1 must go into quarantine. However, shelter-in-place orders are enforced for the rest of us. It’s better than quarantining in a camp.
Settling In For Isolation
Diem and I have a full refrigerator, I have plenty of posts to write, so we are taking everything in stride. School let out for a shortened summer break over a week ago, as it did not resume until May, when it would have been preparing for Summer break. Today it was announced that school would also be postponed again indefinitely.
I don’t know the future, but I consider how long Vietnam can continue these tough measures. They are effective beyond compare, but the borders have been closed for months, and eventually, things must stabilize. Maybe they will hold out in this pattern until a vaccine is created. I know it’s been an awesome experience living in Vietnam, which is great because it looks like I’ll be living here a bit longer.
As I prepared to publish this article, I checked the news one last time. Two hours ago, patients # 417 and 418 had been confirmed.
