Current high ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels, which pose a risk of damage from unprotected sun exposure, will persist until next week and remain at risky levels in Ho Chi Minh City, the central weather bureau has warned.
On Saturday, the UV index in Hanoi was average, while it has reached high levels in the Ha Long City of Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City in the northern region, and in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported.
On the same day, very high UV radiation was observed in Hue City of Thua Thien Hue Province, Da Nang City, Hoi An City of Quang Nam Province, and Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City in the southern region.
In particular, the UV radiation index has been measured from 7.5 to 8 in Ha Long and Hai Phong, 8 to 9 in Hue, 8.8 to 9.1 in Hoi An, 7.5 to 9.5 in Da Nang, 7.8 to 9.5 in Nha Trang city in Khanh Hoa province, 8.3 – 9 in Can Tho City, and 7.5 to 10 in Ho Chi Minh City – the highest level in the country.
Most of these indices were taken in the afternoon, when there is usually a lot of sunlight.
From Sunday to next Tuesday, high UV levels in several cities in the north will continue to pose a high risk of damage, while those in some cities in the central and southern regions will pose a very high risk, the center warned.
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Solar UV Index, UV levels are measured on a scale from 0 (low) to 11+ (extreme).
A UV index of six and seven is considered ‘high’ and eight to ten is ‘very high’, which can burn people’s skin in less than 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, levels of 11 and above are considered “extreme” and can cause burns in less than 10 minutes in fair-skinned people.
dr. Le Duc Tho, a dermatologist, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that UV radiation is harmful and can cause a number of skin conditions, including hyperpigmentation, skin aging, sunburn and skin cancer, as well as eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
People should take preventive measures to reduce the impact of ultraviolet on the body, especially during peak hours of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., doctors said.
When going out, people should wear protective clothing, use a wide-brimmed hat to cover their face, neck and ears, and wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.
Sunscreen should also be used regularly, even on cloudy days, with special attention during the hours when UV radiation levels reach their peak, doctors advised.
In addition, people should drink plenty of water, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and drink mineral water or vitamin-rich fruit juice, among other healthy practices, to increase resistance and protect health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic with its complicated developments.
By Vinh Tho @ Tuoi Tre newspaper
