HCM City has temporarily stopped non-urgent construction projects until April 15 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — HCM City has suspended non-urgent construction projects until April 15 in an aim to strictly follow nationwide social distancing rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city’s Department of Construction has sent an urgent document to people’s committees in 24 districts and relevant agencies about the implementation of the temporary suspension of such projects.

Investors must make adjustments to construction schedules or temporarily suspend projects that are not urgent.

For urgent projects that must be completed on time, contractors and construction units must take preventive measures to ensure the health and safety of their workers.

They are required to make a commitment on the prevention and control of Covid-19 and send it to district-level people's committees where their project is located.

In addition, they must manage their foreign experts and workers who have returned from outbreak-hit regions and notify local authorities who will implement quarantine procedures.

They must also limit night shifts and crowds at construction sites. 

A working shift must have no more than 20 workers, and equipment and machinery must be disinfected after each shift.

All workers must have their temperature checked before and after each shift. If the temperature is above 37.5 degrees Celsius, it must be immediately reported to local health centres.

They must wear face masks, wash their hands with sanitizer frequently, and keep a minimum distance of two metres from others during their working time. — VNS