Vietnam has been dealing with the Covid-19 disaster fairly properly till April of this yr when folks took benefit of the lengthy vacation celebrating Reunification and Labor Days. The surge occurred then. Hanoi, Danang, Bac Giang, and Bac Ninh had been badly hit.
Vaccines had been rolled out giving precedence to manufacturing facility staff and academics. Districts organized swab testing too.
I believed Ho Chi Minh Metropolis can be spared however in late Could, we began to catch up when a religious group’s several members were identified as F0s. These areas with plenty of circumstances had been put below Directive 16 the place folks can solely exit for necessities, and the remainder of HCMC below Directive 15. Public transportation apart from xe oms had been suspended. We are able to nonetheless exit utilizing non-public automobiles.
Two months after, we’ve surpassed all the opposite cities and provinces in Vietnam with the best variety of circumstances. We’re now at 9000++ and counting. To be truthful, numerous new circumstances had been recognized shut contacts of earlier circumstances — so that they’ve been just about in quarantine for a lot of weeks of already. However after all, there are nonetheless new circumstances that require contact tracing.
To curb the rising variety of circumstances, the federal government lastly determined to implement stricter guidelines below Directive 16 for the entire of HCMC. That’s immediately. We will be below lockdown for the subsequent 15 days.
A number of days in the past, when information broke that one of many largest supermarkets in my district noticed 3 circumstances, it precipitated a wave of panic. Individuals began supermarket-hopping and emptied the cabinets. I’ve to confess I used to be considered one of them.
Truthfully although, we shouldn’t have panicked as there actually isn’t any meals scarcity and groceries shall stay open for the remainder of the lockdown. We had been all simply shook up with the sudden surge of circumstances and yeah, we’d somewhat hibernate for the subsequent 15 days than enterprise out and purchase stuff and catch the Delta virus. In comparison with different international locations, Vietnam has been isolating all COVID circumstances — which is comprehensible. However it’s worrisome to be separated from your loved ones particularly if one is a foreigner.
On Tuesday, we determined to replenish on meals and we went to our common grocery store. There was a protracted line! This has by no means occurred earlier than apart from Lunar New 12 months holidays.
There have been plenty of meals however the employees couldn’t sustain restocking the cabinets.
Our go-to meat store was solely permitting 3 folks at a time, so there was a protracted line. Individuals had been variety and simply shortly purchased what they wanted so the subsequent prospects may get inside.
Under is from a good friend (Hello, Mae!) close to her condo. All of the veggies had been gone. However she was unfazed. She will be able to reside on meat and chips. Me too! 😛
Fingers crossed that one thing good will consequence from this new directive.
So immediately is day 1 of the lockdown and our pantry and fridge are just about loaded to final the subsequent 15 days except the children begin raiding them.
Keep protected, Saigon!
