Hanoi (VNA) – Preventing the spread ofCOVID-19 has become a priority of millions of Vietnamese people over the pasttime, according to British freelance journalist Georgina Quach.

In a recent article posted on the website OneZero,the writer mentioned the proud success of Vietnam in the battle against thepandemic.

“One of the most effective tools Vietnam used tomanage the spread of the coronavirus was public education, often deployed viapopular social media channels,” she said.

The journalist cited that in February, Vietnam’shealth ministry released the viral hand-washing song “Ghen Co Vy” (JealousCoronavirus), spreading preventive advice to millions of people. The hashtag#GhenCoVyChallenge has 37.7 million views and counting on the platform.

Vietnam’s communication apparatus was alsocritical for implementing nationwide programmes, she said, adding that earlyon, Vietnam focused on targeted testing and aggressive contact tracing, atactic that helped it become the first country to have stopped the localtransmission of SARS 17 years ago. 

Along with proactive monitoring, Vietnam alsolaunched two smartphone apps, which enable users to log their symptoms and voluntarilyreport suspected infections in their areas, thus identifying hot spots. 

Meanwhile, journalist Dana Kenedy recentlyposted a story titled “How did Vietnam manage to avoid even one coronavirusdeath?” on the New York Post, praising Vietnam’s achievements in response to COVID-19.

She quoted the US Cable News Network (CNN) assaying Vietnam ignored China and the World Health Organisation’sinitial insistence that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmissionand deployed rapid measures like strict quarantine, and contact tracing.

Vietnam’s first coronavirus cases were notreported until January 23, but by that time the country was prepared, she said.

Kenedy went on that Vietnam declared anational epidemic on February 1 though it had just six confirmed casesnationwide. All flights between Vietnam and China were halted, followed by thesuspension of visas to Chinese citizens the next day.

Vietnam later lifted social distancingrules in late April after a three-week shutdown but hasn’t reported anylocal infections for more than 40 days in a row. Businesses and schoolshave reopened, and life is slowly resuming a normal pace, she wrote./.