{"id":3359,"date":"2020-08-07T18:20:28","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T10:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=3359"},"modified":"2020-09-14T22:56:02","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:56:02","slug":"face-mask-atm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/face-mask-atm\/","title":{"rendered":"Saigon Man Invents Free Face Mask ATM To Help Residents Protect Themselves From The Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ho Chi Minh City has a face mask ATM <\/span><\/h2>\n
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The COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam <\/strong>continues to be on the rise as the country sees a daily surge in the number of community cases. <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

As a result, face masks, the most basic preventive measure against coronavirus, have become indispensable<\/strong> for residents across the country when leaving their homes. Saigon and Hai Phong<\/a> are some of the cities that have made it compulsory<\/strong> to wear masks in public<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To ensure that every Saigon resident has masks to wear,<\/strong> Hoang Anh Tuan<\/strong>, a local entrepreneur, has invented an ATM that disburses free face masks to those in need.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cfather\u201d of the face mask ATM is also the inventor of the rice ATM <\/span><\/h3>\n
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\"mask
\nStaff members checking the ATM before operating it
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Lao Dong<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Hoang Tuan Anh<\/strong>, the inventor of the face mask ATM, is also the inventor of the rice ATM <\/strong><\/a>that debuted earlier this year.<\/p>\n

The face mask ATM went into operation on 6th August<\/strong>. It\u2019s situated on 204B Vuon Lai Street<\/a> in Tan Phu District, the same location where the rice ATM used to be located.<\/p>\n

\"mask
\nImage credit: <\/em>Nguoi Lao Dong<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To ensure safety for all users, the ATM is installed with a facial recognition feature<\/strong>, which automatically disburses face masks without the users having to touch any button<\/strong>. It also has a hand sanitizing dispenser<\/strong>, which lets users sanitize their hands.<\/p>\n

According to Tuan Anh, he\u2019s collected 8,000 reusable face masks from donors so far, which are enough to give out to 2,600 people<\/strong>. Each person can receive 3 face masks, which can be washed and reused for at least 30 times each.<\/p>\n

\"mask
\nImage credit: <\/em>Nguoi Lao Dong<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMedical equipment such as face masks have become more scarce and costly<\/strong> these days. The ATM will operate from 10AM until 4PM every Thursday, until it runs out of masks,\u201d Tuan Anh said.<\/p>\n

\"mask
\nImage credit: <\/em>Nguoi Lao Dong<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

When asked whether he planned to operate the rice ATM again<\/strong>, Tuan Anh said that he would if Saigon goes into a nationwide social distancing period.<\/p>\n

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Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade publishes a list of verified mask vendors across the city<\/h3>\n
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\"mask
\nA person buying masks in a mart
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Cong An<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Since wearing a mask in public has become mandatory<\/strong> across Ho Chi Minh City, everybody is expected to buy and use face masks when leaving their homes. For those of us who\u2019re fortunate enough to be able to pay for masks, price jacking is still worrying because masks are after all still a regular necessity.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why on 5th August, HCMC Department of Industry and Trade<\/strong> published a list of vendors in every district who sell quality face masks at reasonable prices.<\/strong>\u00a0 These include convenient stores and marts <\/strong>that can be widely found such as Circle K, Familymart, GS25, Ministop, Familymart, BigC, Co.op Mart, and Vinmart.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The detailed list of mask vendors by district can be found here.<\/a> With thousands of mask vendors dotted around the city, it\u2019d be impossible to find an excuse to not wear masks in public places now.<\/p>\n

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Saigon residents can now collect free reusable masks <\/span><\/h3>\n
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The coronavirus has affected everyone\u2019s lives, most noticeably in job losses for many. However, amid this crisis, we have seen Vietnamese come together to help the more vulnerable in our community.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From handing out free food to implementing ATMs that disburse free rice and face masks, everybody is joining in a common endeavor.<\/p>\n

Now that face masks are no longer scanty<\/strong>, let\u2019s do what we can to alleviate the COVID-19 outbreak by wearing masks when in public places, sanitizing our hands often, and refraining from gathering in groups.<\/p>\n

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