Vietnam quarantine camps

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From Bangkok Post

Vietnam quarantines tens of thousands in camps

HANOI: Vietnam has sent tens of thousands of people to quarantine camps as waves of overseas citizens return home to escape a coronavirus pandemic spreading in Europe and the United States.

Even though Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's poorer nations, its efforts against the virus, praised at home, have ensured its tally of infections is lower than those of many neighbours.

By Thursday, those quarantined numbered 44,955, including nearly half in military-run centres, down about 15% from Monday's figure, official data showed, as many among the first influx to return home early in March were discharged.

"All passengers undergo quick screening," a medical official at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport told Reuters.

"Those with symptoms are taken to hospital, and the rest are sent to quarantine camps, where they will share a room with 10 to 20 others on the same flight."

Vietnam has reported just 148 infections, its health ministry says, with no deaths. Its proven infection rate is lower than any regional nations except Myanmar and Laos, where testing has been limited.

Official figures show Vietnam has tested more than 30,000 people.

The current phase of the battle against the virus is "decisive", Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said, in an effort government statements describe as the "spring general offensive of 2020".

Vietnam took a textbook approach in its early response strategy, based on its experience as the first country outside China to be hit by the Sars outbreak of 2003, said Todd Pollack, an infectious diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School.

"Quarantine of individuals who have contact with a case or are coming from a high-risk area is definitely a key strategy, especially since people infected seem to be infectious at the very start of symptoms," added Mr Pollack, who works with a Harvard initiative in Hanoi, Health Advancement in Vietnam (HAIVN).

Vietnam began its mass quarantine programme on March 16, when it began compulsory testing and quarantine measures for arrivals from virus-hit areas.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/1887100/vietnam-quarantines-tens-of-thousands-in-camps

 

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I received a first-person account from a friend who just completed an extended quarantine upon reentering Vietnam.  He began his journey just as venues in Bangkok were closing and outbound buses were departing full. Vietnam authorities were initially overtaxed by the arrival at their border of so many returnees. Once transportation was organized, however, citizens were dispersed to quarantine locations set up in army bases and closed school facilities.

Authorities then began shifting nationals to locations closer to their homes. For many, this was Ha Tinh province.

Everyone was required to wear surgical masks and their condition regularly monitored, he said. Just as he was nearing the standard 14-day quarantine, he was told that contact tracing determined that a person he was in proximity to at a camp had tested positive and his stay would be extended for an additional observation period.

He was tested twice during this time and registered negative on both. He was released to his home a few days later.

He tells me that the food was good and new masks were provided daily. Upon release, everyone was given a washable cloth mask to take with them.