Facing the complicated developments of the epidemic in the city, yesterday afternoon, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Thanh Phong ordered for the closure of all cultural, sports, and entertainment activities, beauty salons, karaoke parlours, discotheques, pubs, bars, restaurants, beer clubs, massage and sauna parlours and video game stores, wedding centres, tea shops, theatres, sports centres, and billiards clubs.
The city’s chairman also requested religious rituals and activities with 20 people or more at religious establishments and places of worship be halted.
Gas stations, shops selling essential necessities, pharmacies and medical establishments remain open but must fully comply with regulations of the local health authorities on COVID-19 prevention.
For activities at Flower and Book Street on Nguyen Hue Street to welcome the Lunar New Year, there will be no opening ceremony, and the space is allowed to open from 8:00 to 17:00.
Chairman Phong also asked local relevant forces to strictly sanction any people not wearing face masks in public places, strengthen control over illegal entries in the city, ensure security and order, and guarantee adequate supply of goods.
The southern economic hub recorded 25 new locally-infected cases of COVID-19 on February 8, forcing the city to re-activate its entire COVID-19 prevention and treatment system and raise the alert level in the pandemic fight.
It also completed the second testing of the 1,600 staff members at Tan Son Nhat Airport yesterday evening, while temporarily blocking several areas with COVID-19 confirmed cases.
