HCM City removed all COVID-19 pandemic checkpoints at its gateways on October 26 after more than four months. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City has dismantled all the COVID-19 pandemic border checkpoints it had used for four months to check people and vehicles entering and leaving the city.

There were 12 at gateways and 39 on the border with other provinces.

It had planned to keep them until the end of November to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to other cities and provinces with low vaccination rates.

Since October 1 people are allowed to travel without a paper permit within the city but not to other provinces after all inner-city checkpoints were removed.

However, people need to comply with prevention measures such as wearing masks and keeping a safe distance from each other.

The city has a high vaccination rate, with more than 99 per cent of people aged 18 and above getting at least one dose of vaccine and more than 76 per cent getting both.

More than 91 per cent of people aged 65 and above are fully vaccinated.

On October 27, the city began vaccinating children aged 12 to 17, administering around 1,800 doses on the first day.

Since October 1 the city has gradually resumed several economic activities.

Authorities at all levels have been developing economic recovery plans in line with the pandemic control situation in each district.

The numbers of new cases, deaths and severe cases have all decreased in the past few weeks. — VNS