Ho Chi Minh City will only decide whether it will ease or tighten social distancing after September 15, depending on developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The numbers of daily new COVID-19 cases and fatalities
in Ho Chi Minh City from August 28-September 6.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai made that statement during his online dialogue with local residents on the city’s future COVID-19 response plan. 

The city has stepped up efforts to control the pandemic before September 15 as mandated by the Government through the enforcement of a number of measures including speeding up mass testing to separate COVID-19 patients from community, increasing vaccine take-up and improving treatment capacity to reduce fatalities, said Phan. 

The relaxation of social restrictions will be made in line with the developments of the pandemic, ensuring safety for local residents, he added.

Phan also said that all unemployed, disadvantaged and unpaid people due to COVID-19 will be supported, adding that the city has spent VND6,000 billion, including VND 4,800 billion from the city’s budget and VND1,200 billion from social contributions as well as granted more than 1.6 million social security packages for local residents. 

To date, the city has provided financial support worth VND6,000 billion and 14,000 tons of rice to residents, according to Phan.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of late September 6, as many as 259,056 COVID-19 infection cases were recorded in the city and the number of coronavirus-related deaths reached 10,685.