Businesses and factories in HCM City will be shut down immediately if they do not meet requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Chí Tưởng

HCM CITY — The People's Committees of all 24 districts in HCM City were expected to submit a report on the assessment of COVID-19 infection risks at businesses and factories to the city’s Standing Committee office this afternoon. 

Businesses that do not meet the requirements of epidemic prevention will be required to shut down immediately.

On April 11, the HCM City’s Standing Committee directed districts’ people committees to strengthen the assessment of virus infection risks at businesses and enterprises in the city.

Since then, the district authorities and related units have quickly and strictly assessed all businesses.

During the assessment process, the city’s People Committee decided to temporarily shut down operation of the PouYuen Việt Nam company in Bình Tân District for two days from April 14 to 15.

The company's risk of COVID-19 infection had reached 91 per cent after the city authority completed the assessment.

PouYuen Việt Nam has more than 60,000 workers, and has three working shifts. 

According to the city People's Committee, if COVID-19 infections occur at the factory, the consequences will be very serious. 

On April 6, the city’s Standing Committee issued a set of indicators to assess the risk of virus infections at businesses and enterprises.

The indicators are based on 10 factors: the number of workers, the density of workers in the factory, workers who wash hands before entering and leaving the factory, percentage of workers wearing masks, number of workers whose temperature is checked, number of workers using public transport or company pick-up vehicles to workplace, number of pick-up points on the route to the factory, the distance between workers at the cafeteria, night shifts, and enough masks for workers. 

According to the set of indicators, enterprises will be graded on a maximum scale of 10 points for each component. 

The businesses will be asked to shut down immediately if they score more than 80 points. Businesses scoring from 50 to 80 points will be also asked to shut down unless they come up with solutions to mitigate the risks. 

Other businesses will be allowed to operate normally but will be supervised constantly by authorities.          

According to the city’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the city has about 3.2 million factory workers at 415 enterprises. — VNS