Deputy Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Dương Anh Đức speaks at a press meeting on Thursday about the city's support package for people in need. Photo vietnamnet.vn

HCM CITY — The second COVID-19 support package worth more than VNĐ913 billion (US$40 million) has been disbursed to laid-off workers, the poor, and people adversely affected by the pandemic in HCM City, according to the city’s People’s Committee.

Speaking at a press meeting on Thursday, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee Dương Anh Đức said the city was striving to provide financial assistance to needy people in a timely manner to ensure they have food and essential items during the social distancing period, which has been extended until September 15.

Around 143,000 poor and near-poor households have received financial assistance worth VNĐ47.5 billion ($2.08 million), Đức said.

More than 2.3 million laid-off labourers who are ineligible to enjoy unemployment benefits and labourers in the informal sector also have access to the package.

Household businesses and traders who work in traditional markets affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have received financial assistance worth VNĐ12 billion ($526,200) and VNĐ26 billion ($1.13 million), respectively.

Phan Nguyễn Như Khuê, head of the city Party Committee's Propaganda Department, said the COVID-19 support package had been urgently given to people affected by the pandemic due to social distancing regulations.

The city is striving to contain its COVID-19 outbreak by September 15 under Resolution 86 of the Government. It will continue to focus on efforts to implement social welfare packages in the next few weeks.

More than 2.5 million people have been affected by the extension of social distancing orders, according to the city’s Department of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs.

The department will continue to provide assistance to those who have not received or have missed on package allocations. —VNS