Residents in HCM City enjoy the New Year Eve countdown event on December 31, 2020. VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hương

HCM CITY — Given the COVID-19 pandemic in HCM City is under alert levels 1 and 2, scheduled New Year celebrations will go ahead as planned, the municipal People’s Committee said on Monday.

Major activities to welcome the new year include a countdown event on the night of December 31 on Nguyễn Huệ and Lê Duẩn streets downtown in District 1.

Music and art performances will be organised on December 31 and January 1 at the Youth Cultural House and many universities and colleges as well as public venues in districts Tân Phú, Bình Tân, Bình Chánh, Hóc Môn, Củ Chi, Nhà Bè, Cần Giờ, and District 12.

Sports events will also be organised, including the HCM City Marathon and Bicycle Race.

The city is currently assessed as being at level 2, or medium risk, of the four levels of risk under Government Resolution 128.

If the epidemic alert level is raised to 3 or 4, the size of the celebrations will be reduced or cancelled.

Departments and organisations must strictly comply with required COVID-19 preventive measures and limit the number of attendees at year-end meetings.

Only District 10 is at alert level 3.

Speaking at a meeting on Monday, Bùi Thế Hải, deputy chairman of the district’s People’s Committee, said District 10 was raised to alert level 3 from level 2 last week due to an increase in new infections detected in community testing campaigns for people aged 65 and above and people with underlying health problems.

Local authorities imposed restrictions on alcohol and beer sales and large gatherings in some areas with high rates of infection. VNS