Hoc Mon Market management board distributes protective supplies to stall owners
Amid the coronavirus outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City, more business establishments are acting on the government’s workplace hygiene recommendations by distributing protective gear for their employees.
For retail service workers who interact face-to-face with people on a daily basis, face masks might not offer adequate protection against COVID-19.
That’s why the management of Hoc Mon Market in Ho Chi Minh City distributed protective visors and hand sanitizer to their market stall owners to give them an extra layer of defense against the virus.
Handmade protective face visors and hand sanitizer for stall owners
Image credit:Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Loan
With that in mind, the management board of Hoc Mon market in Ho Chi Minh City worked around the clock to make protective face visors and to distribute hand sanitizer for tenants.
Viruses can also enter the body through the eyes through droplets, so visors can help to partially protect one’s eyes, nose, and mouth from coronavirus transmission.
Image credit: Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Loan
“The board hands out one complimentary visor to each stall. Any stall with two staff and above can order more from the board at only VND5,000 (~USD0.22) per visor,” said Nguyen Thi Tuyet Loan, the Facebook user who shared the post and also a member of the board.
Image credit: Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Loan
Netizens are impressed by the management board’s kindness
These photos have garnered over 300 likes and 500 shares from netizens respectively. Many expressed admiration for the small but significant gesture of the market’s management board amid the crisis.
Image credit: Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Loan
Facebook user Phuong Chi Que commented, “So meaningful. Big thanks to the one who came up with this idea and the management board of Hoc Mon Market.”
How the visors are made
Image credit: Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Loan
“How do you make this visor?” asked netizen Becky Truong.
In response to Becky Truong’s question, the management board member Nguyen Thi Tuyet Loan shared some tips on how to make these visors at home.
According to Loan, these protective visors are made by cutting foam strips into a loop that fits the head, taping the ends of the loop together so it forms a ring shape, and attaching a plastic visor to the loop to complete the hat.
They can be made by anyone with simple materials from a stationery shop.
The city government is also supporting households affected by COVID-19
As the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Vietnam has shot over 190, demands for many services have dropped, and many industries in Vietnam are struggling with dwindling demand. This has caused individuals employed in many industries to lose their jobs.
To help the local households weather the pandemic, on 27th March, the Ho Chi Minh City government has proposed a stimulus package amounting up to VND2,700 billion. This includes a monthly payout of VND1,000,000 (~USD50) per pax to those who lose their jobs due to COVID-19.
If approved, the payout will last for 3 months at most, starting from April 2020. An estimated 600,000 people in Ho Chi Minh City, including armed forces, medical staff, quarantined patients, and teachers will qualify for this package.
While this amount is a small amount to some, a little help can go a long way.
Also check out:
- Hanoi man gives old lady a lift during COVID-19 pandemic
- Vietnam’s quarantine facility staff live simply
- Vietnam gives medical workers their highest pay raise in 8 years
Cover image adapted from: Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Loan
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