Care For Others Stops Coronavirus Spread In North OC: Report

WESTMINSTER, CA —The spread of coronavirus among Orange County's Vietnamese community of Little Saigon is "a lot lower" than other communities, according to the county's top health official in a recent LA Times report.

The reason? It's cultural, says Dr. Clayton Chau of the Orange County Health Care Agency. According to the Times, Little Saigon's infection rates are lower than the population of its surrounding cities, fostering "civic pride, mingled with caution."

People within its borders are wearing masks when they shop at The Asian Market: Phước Lộc Thọ. This is the largest Vietnamese shopping center in the United States, according to the OC Register. That mall went outdoors in August, where community members ventured to favorite stores in outside booths after a lengthy closure that began in March.

Here, traditional Vietnamese music plays, sugarcane juice is for sale, and the hope remains that life will return to normal in time for the Lunar New Year Tết celebration next year. As Orange County reopens, so does the mall. Though booths and shopping is open in Little Saigon, residents say they are being safe, wearing masks, and staying close to home.

In Little Saigon, the Times reports residents prioritize family, community and focus on staying in their bubble, which has translated into "relative success in battling the virus."

All of that translates to lower coronavirus counts, according to data collected by the OC Health Care Agency.

Chau spoke with the Los Angeles Times regarding Little Saigon—in Westminster, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Santa Ana. Coronavirus counts in those cities are among the highest in Orange County (as of Sept. 30):

• Garden Grove: 2,948
• Fountain Valley: 509
• Santa Ana: 10,329
• Westminster: 1,031

According to the agency, statistics of coronavirus cases in Orange County's Asian American population is on the lower side of the spectrum.

Coronavirus statistics in the Asian community (representing 21.1 percent of residents in Orange County) have only seen 8.21 percent affected by the disease. Out of the 1,249 who have died of coronavirus since March (as of this report), 226 were of Asian descent.

Fountain Valley's mayor pro tem Michael Vo told the Times that within his borders, the community "listens to the experts." Also, "many go to the same doctors through generations."

Vo says Vietnamese people's mentality is to "protect myself and my family" rather than "declare coronavirus a hoax."

By comparison, the Latino/Hispanic population has been the hardest hit ethnic group across Orange County during coronavirus, according to the agency.

Congressman Harley Rouda, of the 48th District spoke out on the success of the Little Saigon area over Twitter, Wednesday, saying:

"We can protect Orange County's economy and public health if we follow Little Saigon's lead. Wear a mask, practice social distancing, and respect the experts."