A bus stop in HCM City’s District 1. Public buses, taxis and service transport vehicles under nine seats will continue to be suspended until April 22. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — The HCM City Deparment of Transport on Wednesday decided to extend the suspension of public and service transport until April 22.

Earlier, public services had been temporarily stopped from April 1-15 for all buses, fixed-route coaches, taxis, and service vehicles with fewer than nine seats.

The department, however, continue to allow operation of vehicles that are used to transport goods and materials for production, and provide food and other basic necessities. Shuttle buses carrying workers are also allowed. 

Inter-provincial coaches from the city to other provinces within a distance of around 100km are permitted to have two trips per day. Others of a longer distance are allowed to transport passengers for one trip a day.

Vehicles are requested to carry half of their designed capacity, with no more than 20 passengers at a time, and must be disinfected before picking up and after dropping off passengers.

All passengers must wear a face mask and keep a minimum distance of two metres from others.

Before departure, passengers must fill out a health declaration form and have their body temperature checked. 

The city's Department of Transport has worked with the Mai Linh Group to arrange 200 taxis at hospitals to provide free transport services to people in need, mainly for those who have been discharged from hospitals after recovery from surgery.

The city has also continued to suspend the operation of all inland ports and ferries providing transportation on rivers in the city until April 22.

Connecting Nhà Bè and Cần Giờ districts in the city, the Bình Khánh Ferry, however, will continue to serve travel needs and transport of goods of local residents and isolated areas in Cần Giờ District.

Cát Lái Ferry, which connects HCM City's District 2 and Đồng Nai Province's Nhơn Trạch District, is allowed to carry passengers and vehicles from 5am-9am and 4pm-8pm.

Ferries servicing the Cần Thạnh-Phú Lợi Islet route and the Phú Lợi Islet-Thiềng Liềng route in Cần Giờ District are continuing to operate.

Ferries currently in operation must ensure that they are carrying only 50 per cent of their designed capacity, and be equipped with disinfectant.

Ferry passengers must wear a face mask and keep a safe distance from others.

Traffic police and inspectors will continue to closely monitor and strictly handle violations.

HCM City has extended social distancing measures until at least April 22. — VNS