The southern province of Binh Duong, the second biggest coronavirus hotspot in Viet Nam, has basically put COVID-19 outbreak under control, said Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo Van Minh on September 14.

Binh Duong will resume socio-economic activities gradually, Vo said in reply to a question about the locality’s plan to loosen social distancing and return to a “new normal” after September 15. 

The province will gradually reopen activities at “green" areas or pandemic-free zones while tightening social distancing and enhancing prevention measures at “red" or "high-risk" areas of COVID-19 transmission, he added.

In the fourth wave of COVID-19 resurgence in Viet Nam, Binh Duong has recorded more than 160,000 COVID-19 infection cases, including 1,420 coronavirus-related deaths and 104,000 recoveries. 

So far, six “green" areas, including Dau Tieng, Bau Bang, Phu Giao, Bac Tan Uyen, Ben Cat Town and Thu Dau Mot City have resumed business activities in line with ensuring safety. Residents in these areas are allowed to go to work and go outside after 14 days since the date they take at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccines.

Fully vaccinated local residents will be granted with “vaccine green pass” and permitted to travel within their districts after September 15 and around the locality after September 20, Vo said.

Approximately 95 percent of local people aged 18 and over have received at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine, according to Vo.