More than 4,000 children across Vietnam are being quarantined at centralized facilities without the care of their parents, according to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs. 

Since the fourth wave of COVID-19 transmissions broke out in the country on April 27, over 4,000 children in multiple localities have been brought to quarantine venues, Dang Hoa Nam, head of the Department of Children's Affairs under the labor ministry, said during an online discussion on Tuesday.

Due to the absence of their parents, such an experience can result in psychological trauma for these kids, Nam added.

Children suffer a lot of negative impacts brought about by the pandemic, Tran Xuan Bach, vice-president of the Vietnam Youth Federation, stated, adding that there are three groups of children who are the most vulnerable.

The first group includes children who are infected with COVID-19 or required to stay at concentrated quarantine facilities, Bach elaborated.

The second is comprised of children who face a lot of difficulties after their life and studies are affected by the pandemic, or those separated from their parents who are frontline workers.

The third includes disadvantaged or disabled children, or those living in remote areas.

To provide necessary support for children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs has decided to pay for their 21-day quarantine period with the National Fund for Vietnamese Children, Nam stated.

Kids who have to be quarantined during the period from April 27 to December 31 are eligible for this assistance, the official added.

Nam also called on businesses, organizations, benefactors, and the community to contribute to the provision of essential items for children at quarantine centers, namely face masks, utensils, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toys, and books, as well as two boxes of milk per day to help boost their nutrition and immune system.

Such children will be given favorable conditions to contact Call Center 111 for psychological counseling.

Vietnam has documented 7,675 coronavirus cases as of Wednesday afternoon, with 3,043 recoveries and 49 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 4,597 local infections in 37 provinces and cities since April 27.

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