COVID-19 Response: What Sleeping Leaders Can Learn from the Vietnam’s Model

Pandemics happen, but what matters the most is the level of response leaders of nations deploy to curtail it. Unfortunately, the responses we have seen so far have been anywhere from slow to absolutely disappointing!

The Vietnam’s Model

The first known case of COVID-19 in Vietnam was reported on January 23, 2020. The country immediately took decisive actions by putting in place measures that will reduce community transmission. Schools were instantly shut a week after the first reported case, and non-essential businesses were ordered to close their doors. By June 19, 2020, Vietnam has had 349 confirmed cases, 326 recoveries, and no deaths. A total of 275,000 tests were conducted. There are currently 23 active cases being treated, all of which were not community-transmitted; they were imported into the country by people returning from overseas.

How Not to Respond to A Pandemic

What did we observe in countries that were more financially and medically advanced than Vietnam? A string of lackluster and lukewarm responses: From President Trump of the United States calling Coronavirus a political “hoax” to the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro disregarding the conventional approaches for controlling the disease.

Video: President Trump addressing a crowd, calling Coronavirus “a hoax”

Today, the statistics speak for themselves: Nearly 121,407 Americans and 49,090 Brazilians have lost their dear lives to the COVID-19 pandemic. Something that could have been prevented!

There is obviously a lesson for everyone to learn here, as the second wave of COVID-19 is globally anticipated.