A 100-member Medical GrabCar team are offering the free service from Aug. 20 to Sept. 15. Medical staff and at field hospitals in Thu Duc and District 7 can enjoy free rides to their homes or to other medical establishments, including testing centers in Ho Chi Minh City’s urban districts. Covid-19 patients discharged from hospital may enjoy the same privileges.

After a week of operation, Grab Vietnam will consider expanding its free service in line with instructions from the municipal departments of health and transport.

Grab Vietnam will cover all operation, as well as hotel and meal costs for voluntary drivers. The team’s 100 drivers have been vaccinated at least once against Covid-19.

"Several hours after we called for drivers to join the Medical GrabCar team, many volunteered," Grab Vietnam CEO Nguyen Thai Hai Van said.

On Aug. 18, ride-hailing firm Gojek launched GoCar with 50 vehicles offering free rides to doctors, nurses and other medical staff to and from three intensive care units, the municipal department of health and HCMC Center for Disease Control.

Ho Chi Minh City, the current epicenter of Vietnam's fourth coronavirus wave since late April, has recorded 164,342 local cases and 5,627 deaths.

The city of 13 million has undergone a series of social distancing orders, with the latest one being extended until September 15. It will tighten its coronavirus restrictions starting August 23, requiring people to "stay where they are" amid persistent Covid-19 threats.

People are also banned from going out between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next day, except for certain cases like medical emergencies.