The move aims to ease overload and cross infections in mandatory centralized quarantine facilities as many localities have experienced rapid surge of daily new cases, particularly Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – the country’s largest economic hub.

Earlier on June 27, the ministry released instructions for the southern metropolis to apply pilot isolation of F1 individuals at home.

HCMC is the biggest COVID-19 hotspot in Viet Nam with 14,776 community infection cases confirmed from April 27 to 7:30 pm on July 12.

The city began imposing social distancing measures in accordance with the Government’s Directive No. 16 from July 9 to limit COVID-19 spread in the community.

It may stand a chance to contain its COVID-19 outbreak should citizen adhere to the ongoing social distancing measures, said Deputy Minister off Health Nguyen Truong Son.

The city needs to prepare for different scenarios should the number of infections spiral out and reach milestones like 5,000 or 10,000 cases, stressed Nguyen.