Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered social distancing in 19 southern localities that are stricken by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accordingly, the 14-day social distancing period were decided by the chairpersons of provincial People’s Committees but had to begin before July 19.
Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong Province and Dong Nai Province have already enacted social distancing in line with the PM’s Directive No. 16/CT-TTg. The others are Can Tho City and the provinces of Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Long An, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Kien Giang.
Vung Tau beaches are now empty. (Photo: NDO)
On the morning of July 19, roads in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province were quiet. As one of the major vibrant tourist centres in the southern region, all attractions, resorts and beaches in the province are now empty.
The Vung Tau City government has required local businesses and production facilities to apply the mottos of "on-site" (together for meals, accommodation, and production) and "three together" (working together, traveling in the same vehicle, and staying in the same place) for their employees.
Essential goods and foods are still abundant. Secretary of Vung Tau City Party Committee Tran Dinh Khoa said that, to date, Vung Tau has conducted social distancing according to Directive 16 for six days, and has ensured the supply of necessities through drastic implementation by the city government from the beginning, thus there has so far been no shortage of goods and necessities.
Vung Tau Youth Union members set up a free delivery team to transfer goods and food to local people during these days. (Photo: NDO)
* The situation was the same in Ca Mau as today is the first day the province applying social distancing order for 14 days. The streets in Ca Mau City were deserted, while local markets were scattered with people purchasing food.
Few people went to buy goods at a wet market in Ca Mau City on the morning of July 19. (Photo: NDO)
Head of Ca Mau Department of Health Nguyen Van Dung said that inter-sectoral forces continued to tighten the control of entry to Ca Mau on its main roads.
* On the first day of social distancing, on the main roads of Soc Trang City, checkpoints were set up to help vehicles make medical declarations and guide people to have enough information about the regulations on social distancing.
Many checkpoints have been set up in Soc Trang to guide traffic flow and implement medical control task against COVID-19. (Photo: NDO)
Price-stabilising trading venues have come into operation to dispel the fear of scarce goods, while many local workers have decided to stay at their companies and factories to work to prevent infection.
The People's Committee of Soc Trang Province has regulated its units to let 30-50% of public officials work from home, while the rest are at the office.
* On July 19, the first day of the week and also the first day of implementing social distancing order in Tien Giang Province, roads in My Tho City were almost empty. Most people are adhering to the rules of staying at home to stay safe and only go out when absolutely necessary.
A pharmacy in My Tho serve customers online to reduce crowded gatherings. (Photo: NDO)
* Binh Phuoc Province also applied the order for 14 days from July 19 to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic. Previously, from 12 pm on July 17, Dong Xoai City, Dong Phu District, and Chon Thanh District have applied the order.
Currently, the province's main arteries have established seven health checkpoints. Every resident outside the province when entering Binh Phuoc on duty must have a negative test certificate for SARS-CoV-2 within three days.
* All activities were somewhat quiet in Rach Gia City, Kien Giang Province, on July 19, the first day of implementing social distancing order according to Directive 16. Some shops, markets and supermarkets that are allowed to operate are still open, but have very few customers.
Co.opmart Rach Gia supermarket is still full of fresh products. (Photo: NDO)
* In Can Tho City, the functional agencies have proactively implemented solutions to direct and administer in disease prevention and control, as well as preparing the supply of goods and necessities to people during the social distancing period, starting on the whole city from 0:00 on July 19.
Students of Can Tho University buy essential goods right at the university’s campus. (Photo: NDO)
During this period, Can Tho City is focused on tracing and testing all work for effective isolation and treatment. The city has reactivated the system of isolation facilities and field hospitals in all districts to ensure disease prevention and control.
* Dong Thap Province applied Directive 16 to the whole province quite early, from 0:00 on July 14. In local wet markets, people may only go in the morning with no more than 20 people present inside the markets.
A market in Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap Province, still operates to provide necessities for local people. (Photo: NDO)
The functional forces in Bac Lieu City have increased their activities to guide local people on the epidemic prevention and control measures. (Photo: NDO)
People in Ben Tre Province follow the strict social distancing rule when going to buy medicine. (Photo: NDO)
