HCM CITY PLANS TO RESUME SOME ACTIVITIES FROM OCTOBER 1

Ho Chi Minh City plans to gradually reopen some economic activities from October 1 as the pandemic has been basically put under control in the southern economic hub.

Vice chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoa Binh has sent an urgent document to authorities of local districts and communes to give opinions on a draft Directive adjusting measures safely and flexibly for effective COVID-19 control and socio-economic recovery.

Under the draft Directive, the city will permit the reopening of businesses and production establishments in industrial zones, processing and exporting zones, high tech zones, as well as in districts and Thu Duc city.

Services allowed to reopen include food and drink for delivery, in-door hairdressing salons (allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity), traditional markets, wholesale markets, shopping centres, stores for stationery, textbooks, and other learning equipment, mechanics, electronics, and home appliance and construction works.

Tourism sites will be permitted to operate at 30 percent capacity and all visitors must have had two full doses of COVID-19 vaccines, have made a full recovery from COVID-19 or test negative for the virus.

The city will license businesses and production facilities to resume operations if they meet safety requirements of pandemic prevention and control, and allow people with a COVID-19 green card to take part in production activities.

Non-essential services and businesses (such as beauty salons, karaoke venues, pubs, bars and massage parlours) will remain closed.

Sports events will be allowed to be held with 30 percent capacity and all participants must be injected with two full doses of vaccines or have fully recovered from COVID-19.

Outdoor exercise and cultural activities will be allowed with the participation of no more than 10 people or 50 people if all of them were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Wedding services will be allowed with the participation of up to 50 people with supervision from medical workers.

Public transport will resume but only be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.

The city will keep 12 checkpoints at its gateways and 39 other checkpoints at the entrances to other localities.

The city will propose reopening some domestic and international air routes.

Source: VIR