Co.opmart in HCM City continues its safety measures to meet the city's requirements for Covid-19 prevention and control. — VNA/VNS File Photo

HCM CITY — Supermarkets, shopping centres and traditional and wholesale markets in HCM City have assessed their Covid-19 infection risks through a set of evaluation indicators and have set safety measures to meet city requirements.

The city’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Disease Prevention and Control launched the assessment tool as part of a programme to help local businesses reopen. 

The city’s Department of Industry and Trade provided assessment guidance to people's committees in all 24 districts and to management boards at wholesale markets, traditional markets, supermarkets and trading centres.

The department also worked with the Department of Information and Communications to inform residents about shopping places that meet the requirements for reopening.

So far, three wholesale markets, 216 supermarkets and 40 trading centres have sent their self-assessment reports to the department.

People's committees in 24 districts have reported that 196 out of 197 traditional markets have met the safety requirements. Đình Market in Hóc Môn District is taking measures to overcome its shortcomings.

From April 28 to May 7, the Department of Industry and Trade in collaboration with people's committees in 24 districts checked 17 places to ensure they were applying safety measures. Most of the places met 80 per cent of the requirements for operation.

More than 85 per cent of enterprises in the city have been affected by the pandemic, including 87 per cent of businesses in the retail sector, according to the city’s Statistics Office.

In the first five months of the year, total retail sales of consumer goods and services have been estimated at VNĐ506 trillion (US$21.7 billion), a decrease of 4.9 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Of the figure, retail sales of goods in the first five months has been estimated at VNĐ331 trillion ($13.4 billion), a year-on-year increase of 8.4 per cent, accounting for 65 per cent of total retail sales of consumer goods and services.

Retail sales of goods are recovering, but are still slow because purchasing power and rental demand have been affected. 

Purchasing power increased by 10-15 per cent after the social distancing order was relaxed, with a higher increase at retail channels such as supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores.

In the second quarter, retail and distribution systems have launched promotion campaigns to promote purchases through mobile phones, websites and apps, and have offered attractive delivery policies.

The shift from traditional offline channels to online sales has helped businesses improve revenue. — VNS