Strict COVID-19 Lockdown to Begin in Vietnam
Vietnam’s social distancing measures were due to lapse today but have unexpectedly been replaced with the strictest lockdown yet. Under direction from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính, people are under house arrest due to amid persistent COVID-19 threats. The military will deliver food and essential items to homes.
The move comes after recording more than 10,000 new infections and 390 deaths on Friday. COVID-19’s effects are rampant across Southeast Asia as the region has seen twice as many deaths than North America in recent weeks.
Vietnam’s goal is to classify specific geographical areas into three risk levels: green, red, and yellow. Personnel will attempt to maintain and expand the green zones whilst strictly isolating and reducing red and yellow zones.
In the short to medium-term, expect significant increases of military forces, police and medical professionals on the ground to enforce stay at home orders.
In the longer-term, expect Southeast Asia’s COVID-19 struggles to extend well into 2022, if not further, as the region races against new variants and lagging vaccination rates. Expect countries such as Australia to deliver doses to the region by year-end as an act of international cooperation.
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