Remembering the early days of Covid-19 and the haunting memories that still haven't subsided

The first days of the strange virus

In early 2020, the world began to buzz about a new strain of virus that emerged in Wuhan, China, called SARS-CoV-2. At that time, most of us still considered it “a distant story”, as we had done with SARS or MERS. But just a few weeks later, Vietnam recorded its first cases in Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Phuc. That was the moment when the country first encountered the phrases “ medical quarantine”, “social distancing”, and “regional lockdown” – things that had previously only appeared in science fiction movies.

SARS-CoV-2 virus - the agent causing the Covid-19 pandemic next to the RNA chain structure

The virus spread rapidly, seemingly out of control. Street after street, ward after ward, commune after ward gradually became deserted. Normally bustling residential areas suddenly became quarantine zones. The initial number of infected cases could be counted on one hand, but soon, the number began to increase exponentially. From a few dozen cases, then hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of people infected every day, a number that was previously unimaginable.

Directive 16 - a milestone of the times

On March 31, 2020, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 16/CT-TTg, a document marking a major turning point in the fight against the epidemic in Vietnam. The phrase "national social distancing" officially entered life, becoming the focus of all discussions and decisions from the government to the people.

On days when Ho Chi Minh City has a "Stay where you are" rule, after 6 p.m., the streets are empty of people, only forces participating in the fight against the epidemic are allowed to move on the streets. In the photo: An ambulance runs on Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City at 7:12 p.m. on July 27 - Photo: Quang Dinh

According to this directive, localities are required to minimize large gatherings, temporarily suspend all non-essential businesses, and people are asked to stay at home and only go out when absolutely necessary. The once crowded streets are now only home to a few ambulances, trucks carrying necessities, and military vehicles supporting the front lines.

This was an unprecedented decision. But it was this decisiveness that saved many lives and gave the healthcare system time to prepare. The whole country worked together to overcome it. From the doctors and nurses on the front lines, the police and military forces supporting contact tracing and epidemic control, to every citizen strictly following the social distancing requirements.

Unforgettable haunting

The pandemic is not just a number. Behind each positive case is a family in turmoil. Behind each death are silent funerals, filled with tears and grief. Some people lost loved ones without being able to come close to say goodbye, others were the breadwinners of their families but remained in makeshift hospitals.

F1, F0 quarantine areas, Field Hospital (source: Ho Chi Minh City Police Newspaper)

Ambulances carrying patients arrived at night. Treatment areas were overloaded, lacking ventilators and oxygen. Doctors worked non-stop, some collapsed from exhaustion. Clips of people crying and begging to be hospitalized, daily news reports with the number of infected and dead people… all of it was like a collective nightmare that lasted for nearly two years.

Panic has spread as “F0, F1, F2” have become a familiar phrase. Tracing apps, QR codes, vaccination certificates… have appeared in every aspect of life. Fear has never been so concrete and all-encompassing. No one has been unaffected, from students to workers, from workers to businessmen.

Covid news is hot again and hotter than gold price

As time passed, when vaccines were widely available and life gradually returned to normal, people temporarily forgot about those days. But “temporarily forgetting” does not mean “forgotten”. In recent days, when many localities recorded the return of new variants, the number of cases increased sporadically, news about Covid became hot again.

This “heat” is not only the number of cases, but also the return of anxiety. People are starting to look for masks again, look up vaccine schedules, and pay more attention to their health. On social networks, warnings and sharing of symptoms appear again, as if a reminder: The pandemic may no longer be a fierce storm, but it is still there, still waiting to return.

While gold prices fluctuate, causing turmoil in the financial markets, Covid news has become a more general concern, because it affects every family and every individual. No one is immune to the disease. And no one can be sure that there will not be a new outbreak in the future.

Don't be subjective.

The pandemic may have subsided, but the lessons from the pandemic remain intact: Do not be subjective, do not take it lightly, do not delay. That is the spirit that helped Vietnam get through the darkest days. And that is also what will help us respond if the pandemic returns once again.

It is time for everyone to look back, remember and act. Stay healthy, practice personal preventive measures, care for the community and support each other. We have overcome this crisis before and we can certainly overcome it if we remain united, alert and disciplined.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/9/172984/nho-lai-nhung-ngay-dau-covid-19-va-noi-am-anh-van-chua-ngu-yen