The prolonged phase of strict social distancing during the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic left several key export businesses, such as textiles, footwear, and seafood, to face serious difficulties.
Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee last night released an urgent direction regarding social distance extension citywide in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Directive 16 from 12am August 16 to September 15. All localities and related state agencies, departments are asked to strictly monitor citizens’ movements. This time, however, more business groups are allowed to operate to maintain social security.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that the epidemic situation in Ho Chi Minh City has initially shown positive signs after a period of drastic implementation of measures under Directive 16 and is expected to decrease in the next few weeks if the current drastic measures continue to be applied.
The current ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has been relentless in damaging the whole economy, which is getting weaker and weaker as social distancing regulations continue to be implemented for longer and longer periods, and across almost all provinces and cities of the country.
Amidst travel restrictions under Directive 16, the People’s Committee of Thu Duc (HCMC) has set up mobile Covid-19 vaccination teams and frontline workers at various quarantine areas, and saw initial success after the first 2 days.
Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai affirmed in yesterday’s meeting to update the status of Covid-19 fight that the municipal authorities is determined to mobilize all possible resources from the state and community to ensure the basic needs of city dwellers are met.
As the latest Covid-19 outbreak is still rather complicated in Ho Chi Minh City, the municipal authorities are using the two blockade extension weeks as directed by the Prime Minister to determinedly put it under control and return to the new normal status.
HCMC along with 18 southern provinces and cities will continue to enforce lockdown measures in line with the Prime Minister's Directive 16 for two more weeks, per a dispatch issued by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday.
Chairman of the HCMC Peole’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said that perhaps it will take months for the city put the ongoing coronavirus outbreak under control. Therefore, the city may extend its current social distancing period by another two weeks after August 1 due to the continuing rise in the number of patients with Covid-19.
Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen yesterday paid several visits to workers living in medical lockdown areas in hope of spiriting them up and reminding them to observe social distance rules strictly.
Ho Chi Minh City has formed many checkpoints in its districts and Thu Duc City to verify whether all passing people are with purposes regulated in Directive 16 or not. Those without necessray purposes, including shippers transporting unessential items, are fined from VND1-3 million.
HCMC starting from July 26 tightens Covid-19 restrictions against going outside for unnecessary reasons in the 21 districts and Thu Duc city, after the HCMC Party Committee issued Directive No.12 and HCMC People’s Committee issued Official Dispatch 2468 on strengthening social distancing measures under Directive 16.
All citizens in Ho Chi Minh City will have to follow stricter rules from July 26, including a curfew after 6pm unless in emergency, in an effort to stop further spreading of Covid-19 in the city. Meanwhile, functional agencies must tighten law enforcement in each district while taking care of residents’ life. This is the main content at the 7th session of the Executive Committee of HCMC Party Committee yesterday.
The Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee is determined to protect people's lives and health as well as minimize Covid-19 deaths by adopting more measures to strictly implement Directive 16 in the city.
HCMC is collecting opinions from experts, ministries and departments to prepare for further tightening of Directive 16 to contain Covid-19. One way of limiting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is to practice social distancing.
A video yesterday went viral of an officer showing professional misconduct towards a young man going out to shop for banh mi in Nha Trang. The city authorities have since issued an official apology to the man.
19 provinces and cities in the Southern of Vietnam since yesterday have observed the Prime Minister’s Directive 16/CT-TTg to prevent further Covid-19 spreading. Several feasible solutions have been, therefore, carried out in order to supply essential commodities to citizens in these areas, including Ho Chi Minh City.
Speaking at the online conference reviewing the implementation of social distancing measures under the Directive 16 after seven days on July 15, Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen both recognized and appreciated the incredibly efforts of the entire city during the days of social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic despite the unimaginable pressure of bed capacity in hospitals and quarantine facilities.
Ho Chi Minh City has now issued Directive 16 to implement strict social distancing in public places. This is a necessary decision taken by City authorities to ensure that the pandemic remains contained.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long yesterday chaired a meeting with the special permanent Department of the Ministry of Health in Southern metropolis about specific guidelines for epidemic prevention and control in line with the implementation of Directive 16 in the southern city.