Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have required citizens to continue wearing face masks in public even though the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic has been suppressed throughout Vietnam.

Vice-chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem stated in an urgent document on Thursday that all sectors and authorities at district, ward, commune, and town levels must remain alert in the fight against COVID-19.

All people in the southern metropolis must continue wearing face masks when leaving their homes, at public places, and on public transport means, Liem stated in the fiat.

Local residents should avoid large crowds and keep a safe distance from one another.

Relevant authorities have to take strict epidemic prevention and control measures and impose suitable penalties on those violating the regulations.

More focus should be directed on COVID-19 prevention efforts at crowded places such as residential areas, schools, hospitals, markets, supermarkets, and quarantine facilities.

The city’s administration has tasked the health sector with preparing sufficient quarantine facilities for arrivals on regular international flights, and preventing the ‘third wave’ of the epidemic from happening.

Vietnam has recorded 1,100 COVID-19 cases, of which 409 were imported, as of Friday afternoon, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

A total of 1,023 patients have made a recovery, while 35 have been killed by the disease.

About 14,250 people are staying at quarantine facilities across the Southeast Asian country.

No community-based infections have been documented in Vietnam for 37 days.

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