The otherwise busy Tạ Hiện Street in Hà Nội became quiet in March last year, when a nationwide lockdown order was imposed. — VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Today marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Việt Nam. On January 23, 2020, a man visiting from China tested positive for coronavirus. Since then all our lives have been turned upside down as the pandemic spread to all corners of the globe. But despite global upheaval, Việt Nam has been praised for the way it has handled this deadly plague.

As of January 22, the country has seen a total of 1,548 cases with just 35 proving fatal, while 1,411 have recovered. The country has undergone 52 days without a case of COVID-19 community transmission.

Viet Nam News takes a look back at the key events of the past 12 months since that very first case was recorded, and the tremendous efforts made by the authorities, medical staff and security forces, as well as the entire nation, to contain COVID-19.

January 23, 2020: The first case of COVID-19 is reported after a 66-year-old Chinese man came from Wuhan to Viet Nam to visit his son. He and his son were then treated at Chợ Rẫy Hospital, HCM City.

February 13, 2020: Sơn Lôi Commune, Bình Xuyên District in Vĩnh Phúc Province is locked down after six cases were discovered there.

Trúc Bạch Street, where patient 17 lives, is quarantined. — VNS photo

March 6, 2020: Patient 17 tests positive for coronavirus after coming back from Europe, marking a second wave of COVID-19 cases.

March 18, 2020: Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc orders a halt to issuing new visas for foreigners to Việt Nam and limited flights from pandemic zones.

March 25, 2020: Việt Nam suspends all international flights to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Soldiers of the Army Chemicals and Military Medicine Department spray disinfectant to sterilise the area around Bạch Mai Hospital. — VNA/VNS Photo.

March 28, 2020: Bạch Mai hospital is locked down after many cases related to the hospital were reported. Bạch Mai hospital becomes the virus epicentre of Hà Nội.

April 1, 2020: A social distancing order is implemented nationwide.

April 12, 2020: Bạch Mai Hospital reopens after 14 days of quarantine.

April 23, 2020: The social distancing order is lifted in most areas of the country except for some high-risk zones.

British pilot Stephen Cameron recovers after being in a coma. — Photo courtesy of Chợ Rẫy Hospital

May 27, 2020: British pilot Stephen Cameron, Việt Nam's sickest COVID-19 case, shows signs of recovery.

July 11, 2020: Pilot Stephen Cameron flies back to the UK.

July 25, 2020: The first COVID-19 case is reported in Đà Nẵng City.           

July 28, 2020: All of Đà Nẵng City is locked down.

August 4, 2020: Army disinfects Đà Nẵng City’s Sơn Trà District.

August 13, 2020: Domestic flights take stranded tourists back from Đà Nẵng.

A nurse holds the infant born to a mother with COVID-19. — Photo courtesy of National Hospital for Tropical Diseases

September 10, 2020: A baby is born to a mother with COVID-19.

September 11, 2020: Đà Nẵng loosens social distancing orders.

November 30, 2020: HCM City announces the first case of COVID-19 after 100 days.

December 10, 2020: Call for registration for human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine.

December 17, 2020: First dose of the vaccine is administered.

December 26, 2020: Vĩnh Long Province reports a man who entered Việt Nam illegally tests positive for COVID-19.

January 2, 2021: New highly more transmissible variant of coronavirus first reported in HCM City after a woman is repatriated from the UK.