Workers at an industrial park in HCM City are tested for COVID-19. VNA/VNS Photo by Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY —  The number of COVID-19 cases in HCM City has increased in districts with industrial parks, according to the city's Department of Health.

The department has strengthened prevention measures in districts 12, Nhà Bè, and Bình Chánh where many industrial parks are located.

District 12 has launched 10 mobile clinics managed by the district’s hospital. The district has recorded more than 8,000 COVID-19 cases since October 23.

Of these, 1,200 cases were in Tân Thới Hiệp Ward. They are mostly workers at the Tân Thới Hiệp Industrial Park and people living in boarding houses in the ward.

The department has asked local authorities to work with the Management Board of HCM City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks Authority (HEPZA) to set up a mobile clinic and a quarantine zone inside the Tân Thới Hiệp IP.

Local authorities have encouraged people who have not been fully vaccinated to get the vaccine at ward-level medical centres. There is no need for advance registration.

The district now has 95 per cent of population aged over 18 who are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Bình Chánh District has recorded 6,201 cases since early October.

The highest number of COVID-19 cases were found at Vĩnh Lộc A, Phạm Văn Hai and Lê Minh Xuân communes where many industrial parks are located.

Most of the cases are workers living in boarding houses.

Local authorities have been handling the COVID clusters according to the department’s regulations.

Nhà Bè District recorded 2,551 cases from October 1 to November 4. They were mostly workers at Hiệp Phước and Long Hậu Industrial Parks, and people in boarding houses.

The district now has seven mobile clinics managed by military medical forces.

Nguyễn Hoài Nam, deputy director of the Health Department, said that Nhà Bè faced a high risk of an outbreak because it has many IPs and seaports. The districts with IPs still face the same risk as Nhà Bè.

He asked local authorities to ensure prevention and control measures at IPs and boardinghouses. — VNS