President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (left) has his body temperature checked at a meeting with voters in HCM City’s Hóc Môn District on May 10. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HCM CITY— HCM City Election Commission has instructed authorities in Thủ Đức City and 21 city districts to take preventive measures against COVID-19 when organising conferences and meetings before the upcoming election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils for the 2021-26 tenure.

Attendees at the conferences and meetings must keep a safe distance.

The authorities of Thủ Đức City and the 21 district have been encouraged to organise online conferences and meetings to contact voters.

They should also work with local health officials to conduct SARS-CoV-2 tests for attendees before and after conferences and meetings.

Nguyễn Hữu Hưng, deputy head of the city Department of Health, told Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper that the department has taken preventive measures against COVID-19 during the election to avoid transmission.

The city has chosen voting sites with large areas disinfected before, during and after the election. Doors of voting sites will be opened where fans will be installed.

Hand sanitisers, infrared thermometers to measure body temperature, masks, health declaration forms, and other items will be put at voting sites.

The voting sites will have a room for temporary quarantine for voters who have symptoms of fever or cough or are suspected of having COVID-19.  

Tables and chairs at the voting sites for voters will be arranged at least one metre apart.

If there is a COVID outbreak, the election will be organised in areas with social distancing or lockdown.

Voting in these areas will be done at a fixed time. Distances between voters must be at least two metres. Conferences and meetings with voters before the election will not be held with more than 20 attendees.

Staff of election teams will use protective clothing and wear masks when they are on duty. If voters have a fever or cough, they will be brought to quarantine rooms. All staff of election teams and voters must monitor their health for at least 14 days.

Mobile ballot boxes will be put in COVID-19 quarantine and treatment establishments. Each district will set up an address to store these boxes and have officials to check ballots.

Health officials will be arranged in election teams in districts and Thủ Đức City.

Election teams at Củ Chi Field Hospital, Cần Giờ COVID-19 treatment Hospital, and quarantine establishments in districts and Thủ Đức City will be set up.

Election team staff will go to hospitals and hotels that have their own quarantine areas to bring mobile ballot boxes to voters quarantined there.

Other staff of election teams will visit the elderly or ill voters and people with disabilities.

All mobile ballot boxes will be under seal, and disinfected and transported by vehicles used by hospitals to the city’s site that is used to check ballots.

During election day, the city 115 Emergency Aid Centre will respond to emergency aid and transport voters who have health problems to hospitals. VNS