{"id":9302,"date":"2021-09-27T18:08:09","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T10:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=9302"},"modified":"2021-09-27T18:25:22","modified_gmt":"2021-09-27T10:25:22","slug":"hcmc-covid-19-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/hcmc-covid-19-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"HCMC To Remove All Covid-19 Barricades By 1st October As More Curbs Will Be Eased"},"content":{"rendered":"

HCMC to ease Covid-19 restrictions starting from 1st October<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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When Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam\u2019s largest city, battled with its first Covid-19 waves with just a few community cases, only sites exposed to the virus were barricaded for safety reasons. After the fourth wave struck in late April this year, community cases have ballooned rapidly and so have the number of street barricades.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only do barricades help us identify Covid-19 zones, but they are also being used to safeguard Covid-19-free zones from strangers who might carry the virus in. However, there\u2019s no denying that these barricades have made citywide movements more inconvenient and deliveries difficult, even for essential business staffers.<\/span><\/p>\n

With this in mind, authorities have decided to remove all Covid-19 barricades by 1st October, according to the <\/span>Ministry of Industry and Trade<\/span><\/a> (MTT). This decision is seen as city leaders\u2019 attempt to help the city transition into living with the pandemic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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HCMC sets goal of removing 900 barricades by 1st October<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nImage credit: <\/span>Tu\u1ed5i Tr\u1ebb<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In a 24th September meeting with local business representatives, HCMC leaders Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n N\u00ean and Phan V\u0103n M\u00e3i said that they\u2019d consider removing all barricades in the inner city by the end of September. Since late April, the number of barricades in the city has grown to 900, the <\/span>Ministry of Industry and Trade<\/span><\/a> reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, barricades and safety booths at city gate borders will remain in place to ensure long-term security for the whole city. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>This decision is good news for local businesses and ride-hailing service providers, now that the city has announced its plans for reopening in specific phases<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Removing barricades will help sustain logistical activities and make it easier for delivery staff to ship goods to customers.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: <\/span>Tu\u1ed5i Tr\u1ebb<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Three days after the timely announcement, many parts of Saigon have seen their safety barriers partially removed. Movement restrictions inside residential neighborhoods have also been eased accordingly. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Needless to say, delivery staff and residents are ecstatic. For those delivering goods, no barriers means less waiting time at entrances, and faster delivery. For residents, it means much-needed walks out and about after many days of being cooped up at home. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>\u201cI\u2019m extremely happy. For the past 100 days, all of my activities have been wrapped up in this tiny lane. I had to give and receive deliveries over barricades,\u201d Ms \u00c1i Ly, a Th\u1ee7 \u0110\u1ee9c resident, told <\/span>Tu\u1ed5i Tr\u1ebb<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThe removal of barricades also helps us feel more relieved as it shows that we\u2019re all making progress in our battle against the pandemic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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HCMC authorities will issue a new Covid-19 decree from 1st October<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nImage credit: <\/span>Di_An_h<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

At a Covid-19 briefing on 26th September, HCMC authorities announced that they would release a new decree specifying the relaxations of movement curbs on 1st October.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though nothing is set in stone yet and we all have to wait until 1st October to find out, here are a few things mentioned by <\/span>Tu\u1ed5i Tr\u1ebb<\/span><\/a> in the draft bill that are worth a read.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clinics, hair salons, financial institutions, convenience stores, and markets will be allowed to reopen. However, the maximum group size allowed to be inside public venues at any time will be reduced to only 50% of their capacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The maximum number of people allowed to attend a wedding is 50, and for funerals 20 persons at maximum. These events must be monitored by a medical witness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Group sizes for indoor and outdoor manufacturing activities will be reduced to no more than 10 persons. In case 100% of the staff members are fully vaccinated, the cap can go up to 50 persons at the maximum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Religious activities and non-essential businesses such as entertainment hubs and massage parlours will continue to be suspended.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: <\/span>Thanh Ni\u00ean<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

All residents must maintain social distancing in public and use scannable QR codes to make health reports when entering public venues. Those who hit the streets must prove that they are qualified to go out, such as being fully vaccinated for at least 14 days.<\/span><\/p>\n

As great as they sound, remember that these are just clauses in a draft bill for now, and we need to wait until 1st October for updates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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HCMC is gradually loosening restrictions
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The fourth Covid-19 wave has taken a toll on all of us. Over 10,000 people have died, over 1,000 children have become orphans, and too many people have lost their jobs. Within less than five months, we have witnessed and experienced many catastrophes that we never thought were possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

As we\u2019re fast approaching the final months of 2021, we are also reaching a new chapter in our lives, a monumental landmark in the city\u2019s history – <\/span>a long-term life with Covid-19. <\/b>It may not be a smooth transition as we get used to the new requirements for leaving our homes, but at least we\u2019re making progress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Covid-19 situation in HCMC has required prompt and unprecedented responses by the government and local authorities. Therefore, we invite you to stay tuned for future updates on the latest developments in the city\u2019s Covid-19 strategies and regulations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n