HCM City will apply stricter COVID-19 prevention measures from 12am on August 23. — VNA/VNS Photo by Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY — HCM City will apply stricter COVID-19 prevention measures from 12am on Monday (August 23) as the number of cases, especially in the community, remains high despite social distancing order.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Phạm Đức Hải, vice chairman of the city People’s Council and deputy head of the city steering board for COVID-19 prevention and control, said the city had made efforts in pandemic prevention but the situation was still complex and unpredictable.

The Party Committee and People’s Committee therefore decided to tighten prevention measures with the slogan “Every residential area, every ward, every agency, every factory, every enterprise must be a fortress to prevent the pandemic".

The city asks people to "stay where they are” and strictly follow safe distancing among individuals, families, residential areas and wards.

The city is expanding testing in "red zones” (the highest risk areas) and promoting vaccinations.

The city also urges people to follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K prevention protocol and not hoard goods. Food and essential goods will be ensured, especially for needy people or those in locked-down or quarantined areas.

Phan Nguyễn Như Khuê, head of the city's Party Committee's Department of Publicity and Education, said all of these measures were being taken to implement the directives of the Central Committee, and the city’s Party Committee and the People's Committee.

“The city will announce specific solutions when the plan is completed,” he said, adding that the plan will mention which groups can go out, how essential goods will be supplied, and how mobile clinics will operate.

Khuê said the city had applied strict measures until September 15 under Resolution 86 of the Government.

Since the fourth COVID wave began in April, the city has recorded 164,342 cases. The city has carried out social distancing for 43 days under the Government’s Directive 16. — VNS