South Coasters face Covid-19 challenge in Vietnam

With South Africa in lockdown from Thursday, March 26, South Coasters, Bluett Roberson Jnr and his fiancee, Chantelle Makkink are facing similar challenges in Thanh Hoa City in the north of Vietnam.

As of Tuesday this week, the couple who are English teachers were in quarantine along with two friends, also from the South Coast, who had flown from South Africa to Vietnam on March 12.

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“People on their flight tested positive for Covid-19, so the four of us are in lockdown at a government hospital,”said Bluett.

“The situation in Vietnam has been difficult for all foreign teachers. Our schools have been closed since January. That is when the first rumours about the virus in China made its way to us. None of us have received salaries for three months and we are still not sure when schools will re-open,” said Chantelle.

According to Bluett, to the best of his knowledge there are 71 confirmed cases in Vietnam and 16 of them have been discharged from hospital. “The government is really proactive at handling this outbreak and they are taking good care of the people and foreigners.

“We have been living day-by-day. However, we cannot be thankful enough to be in Vietnam in this time of uncertainty and paranoia. It is a little ridiculous when I hear the stories in South Africa and how everyone’s panic shopping. It sounds like those terrible zombie apocalypse movies, it is not the case here at all,” said Chantelle.

While in quarantine they are being well taken care of. “They are giving us meals and coffee. The head of the infectious department of the hospital, Quynh Hoa is communicating with us at all times. She is amazing and all the staff are great. We can’t wait to get the results back so we can go home.”

Also, the law in Vietnam states that no one can enter any shop without a face mask on. If shoppers don’t comply, they are denied entry by security.

At the time of writing, Chantelle and Bluett had been in quarantine for 10 days and they had not shown any symptoms of the virus.

They are not planning on leaving Vietnam anytime soon as they have faith and trust in the Vietnamese government.

“We miss everyone back home and it’s sad to see how fiercely it’s spreading through South Africa. I pray that God will keep us, family, friends and everyone in South Africa healthy. My faith is strong,” said Chantelle.

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