Announcing this, the HCMC Department of Industry and Trade said Sunday that the markets will have to draw up specific operation plans and all traders must test negative for Covid-19.

The department has also asked the city’s districts to introduce online shopping at traditional markets and in response, the market management agencies have requested the traders to start online sales, create social media profiles and fan pages with information like location and phone numbers.

The Binh Thoi Market in District 11 has established an online system for customers to register their shopping time frame. Customers will receive reminder notifications half an hour before their registered time.

According to the industry and trade department, in HCMC, 46 markets were operating and 191 closed, as of Sunday.

The city, home to 13 million people, is suffering the worst Covid-19 community outbreak ever. It is now the most infected locality with nearly 31,400 ocal cases recorded so far in the ongoing wave that hit Vietnam on April 27.