Hanoi (VNA) - Russia’s Sputnik radio quoted aRussian expert on April 23 as saying that Vietnam has effectively contained theCOVID-19 pandemic thanks to three main factors.

According to Associate Professor Maxim Syunnerberg of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, the three factors are the prompt and timely response by authorities, people’s senseof responsibility, and information transparency.

Vietnam’s achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control resulted in a lowtransmission rate, with only 270 cases and no fatalities in the country as of April23. 

An emergency response centre was established after the first COVID-19 casehad been detected, he said, adding that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc announcedon February 1 the appearance of the disease in three localities with six patients.

He commended other prompt actions taken by Vietnam, such as closing schools,holding drills, suspending flights to pandemic-stricken countries, and restrictingvisas granted to foreigners, among others.

Syunnerberg also spoke of the PM’s directive on April 1 on imposing the nationwide social distancing order. The Government also announced supportive economic measures in early March,he added. 

He citeda survey finding that Vietnamese people have the most confidence in their Government’sresponse to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The expert also lauded the significant role of the local media and the people’s senseof responsibility, with various creative measures adopted by the public.

In science, Vietnam was one of the first countries worldwide to have successfullyisolated the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, he said, addingthat the country’s test kits have been used widely and they, together with othermedical equipment, have been exported to Europe and the US.

With its collective strength, Vietnam has the right to hope it will be oneof the countries with the lowest COVID-19 cases worldwide and will overcome thepandemic with the least consequences, he said./.