A Bạc Liêu Province health officer provides COVID-19 testing to its residents. VNA/VNS Photo by Chanh Đa

HCM CITY – Many southern provinces have strengthened COVID-19 prevention measures as the number of locally transmitted cases has increased in the region.

Tây Ninh Province has suspended unnecessary businesses and services including bars, karaoke parlours, discos and game rooms from November 22 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Food and beverage stores can serve no more than 20 people at the same time and must follow the Government's 5K protocol. Religious, cultural and sports activities, funerals and weddings are allowed with a maximum of 20 people.

Workplaces and businesses must comply with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, ensure a safe distance between employees, and avoid gatherings of 30 people or more.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, the rapid increase of locally transmitted cases in the community, especially in industrial parks, has been caused by people neglecting pandemic prevention measures.

In the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bạc Liêu, meetings and events with more than 10 people outside offices, medical centres and enterprises are banned, beginning on November 21.

The province’s residents are asked not to go outside, except in emergency cases, from 8pm until 4am the following day.

People who are vaccinated with one dose or who have fully recovered after contracting COVID-19 are allowed to go outside for food twice a week. People are allowed to go out to vaccination sites.

Restaurants and eateries can be open from 4am to 7pm with takeaway only, while unnecessary businesses and services must be suspended.

Phạm Văn Thiều, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, asked district-level People’s Committees to send functional forces to patrol and supervise COVID-19 prevention and control measures in localities, as well as to detect and strictly handle violations.

Bạc Liêu has been classified as level 3 or high-risk (orange).

The coastal province of Bình Thuận on November 21 issued a document on strengthening pandemic prevention and control measures. All unnecessary businesses and services must be suspended, while eateries must offer only takeaway and delivery.

Residents cannot go outside from 7pm until 5am the following day.

Bình Thuận has recorded 11,767 COVID-19 cases and 95 deaths. It is classified as level 3 or high-risk (orange).

Meanwhile, the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) province of Lâm Đồng on November 21 decided to require COVID-19 negative test results taken within the last 72 hours from people who have returned from high-risk and very high-risk zones.

The province asked public agencies and organisations to offer COVID testing for their employees every three days.

Lâm Đồng has seen an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in recent days, mostly returnees from other provinces. The province has recorded nearly 2,000 cases so far, including 500 cases in Đà Lạt City. — VNS