© Reuters via Bangkok Post
Pre-reading questions:
- Have you been travelling for leisure or vacation during the pandemic? Why or why not?
- What do you do during day offs or holidays in this time of pandemic?
Vocabulary:
- evacuation /ih-vak-yoo-EY-shuhn/
[noun] the act of moving people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe
The evacuation for the landslide victims will start today.
- domestic /duh-MES-tik/
[adjective] relating to a person’s own country
Domestic flights are not allowed from today until further notice.
- extensive /ik-STEN-siv/
[adjective] covering a large area; having a great range
The extensive survey in the community started yesterday.
- spread /spred/
[noun] the development or growth of something so that it covers a larger area or affects a larger number of people
The government has successfully reduced the spread of the virus in the country.
- strictly /STRIKT-lee/
[adverb] in a way that would bring severe punishment if not obeyed
The rules and regulations in the pool must strictly be implemented.
Vietnam starts the evacuation of 80,000 local tourists from Da Nang on Monday, July 27. The operation began after three positive cases were reported in the city a day before the evacuation date, July 26. Based on the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, an estimated number of 100 domestic flights from Da Nang to 11 Vietnamese cities are being handled daily. The cities of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh require their residents returning from Da Nang to be quarantined, while the others are mandated to fill in health declaration forms. The government claims that the process would take four days to complete, and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc orders an extensive coronavirus testing in Da Nang.
The country has been taking drastic initiatives to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within its territory. On February 12 this year, Vietnam locked down the northern part of Hanoi, which comprises 10,000 residents, for 20 days after seven positive coronavirus cases were reported. Since March, international flights to-and-from Vietnam have been strictly prohibited as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. To date, Vietnam has 866 positive COVID-19 cases with 16 recorded deaths.
Comprehension Questions:
- What area in Vietnam was locked down on February 12 this year?
- In the article, when were the three positive cases reported in Da Nang?
- Since when has Vietnam banned international flights to-and-from the country?
- How many local tourists are being evacuated from Da Nang?
- What Vietnamese cities require their residents travelling from Da Nang to undergo quarantine?
Discussion Questions:
- Should all cities in Vietnam require those returning from Da Nang to be quarantined, not only Bac Giang and Bac Ninh? Please share your thoughts.
- In your opinion, when should a government order a lockdown on a city? Please explain your answer.
- Aside from social distancing and banning international flights, what rules should be implemented in an airport during this time of pandemic?
- How long do you think should a lockdown on a city last? Please tell me more.
- What do you think are ways to make sure that we are safe even when travelling during the pandemic?
[noun] the act of moving people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe
The evacuation for the landslide victims will start today.
[adjective] relating to a person’s own country
Domestic flights are not allowed from today until further notice.
[adjective] covering a large area; having a great range
The extensive survey in the community started yesterday.
[noun] the development or growth of something so that it covers a larger area or affects a larger number of people
The government has successfully reduced the spread of the virus in the country.
[adverb] in a way that would bring severe punishment if not obeyed
The rules and regulations in the pool must strictly be implemented.
The country has been taking drastic initiatives to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within its territory. On February 12 this year, Vietnam locked down the northern part of Hanoi, which comprises 10,000 residents, for 20 days after seven positive coronavirus cases were reported. Since March, international flights to-and-from Vietnam have been strictly prohibited as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. To date, Vietnam has 866 positive COVID-19 cases with 16 recorded deaths.