City universities seek to reopen after six-week closure

The heads of many universities in Ho Chi Minh City, especially medical and pharmacy, have sought the People’s Committee’s approval to reopen on 16 March after six weeks of closure due to the COVID-19 epidemic, reports Viet Nam News.

Speaking at a meeting with city authorities to discuss strengthening of measures to prevent the disease, Tran Diep Tuan, rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said his students have the required knowledge and skills to control diseases and this is a chance for them to acquire experience. They could in fact serve as reserve personnel if the city lacks adequate doctors and nurses in case of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Ngo Minh Xuan, rector of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, said his students wanted to contribute to controlling diseases, while Huynh Thanh Dat, president of the Viet Nam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, which has a School of Medicine, concurred with Xuan and Tuan that students should return to school.
Full report on the Viet Nam News site