Many Saigon residents have been fined for leaving their homes unnecessarily during the 15-day social distancing campaign that started last Friday
Many Saigon residents have been fined for leaving their homes unnecessarily during the 15-day social distancing campaign that started last Friday.
Traffic police and officials appointed to maintain public order stop residents for checking papers at a Covid-19 checkpoint in Phu Nhuan District Saturday. As many as 266 such checkpoints have been set up in addition to 12 main ones at gateways connecting the city with neighboring localities.
Everyone passing the checkpoint has to present a certificate provided by employers proving they are eligible to work at businesses or organizations still allowed to operate or show papers establishing other valid reasons to go out. HCMC, epicenter of the ongoing coronavirus wave, entered its second citywide social distancing campaign from Friday under Directive 16, which requires residents to stay at home and only go out for basic necessities such as buying food or medicines or to work at factories or businesses that are allowed to open.
Those failing to show a work certificate or a valid reason when going out were taken to a sidewalk inside the Gia Dinh Park and asked to present their personal papers and fined VND1-3 million ($43.38-130.15).
People sit on the park’s sidewalk, waiting for their turns to providing personal information to the police. They have to sanitize their hands and make medical declarations.
A man going out for morning exercise is questioned by the authorities.
As of Sunday afternoon, the city's coronavirus tally had risen to 12,658. On Saturday, the city recorded 1,300 cases, its highest daily tally since the fourth wave broke out.
During Saturday afternoon, some people riding to exercise were also stopped.
Bicycles are guarded by the police.
"My house is right next to the park, I just ran out to buy some vegetables," Thanh, a resident, explained to functional forces.
At 6:30 p.m. a 47-year-old woman (pictured) went to the park to exercise and was fined VND2 million. After signing the minutes, she was brought home by a public order staff to get her identity card.
After two days of applying to the social distancing order, city authorities have fined many violators with a total amount of VND841 million (36,487) for leaving homes for non-essential reasons, gathering in public places and trading non-essential goods.
