Ho Chi Minh City chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong has requested competent authorities and sectors to prepare treatment plans for a scenario where the city records up to 200 COVID-19 cases.

During a teleconference on Thursday, chairman Phong stated that residents in the metropolis had welcomed a special Lunar New Year against the backdrop of the complicated COVID-19 pandemic.

Local authorities had to cancel multiple unnecessary programs, festivals, and sports and cultural activities to ensure safety during the holiday.

Most officials and public servants in charge of pandemic prevention and control efforts could not go back to their hometowns for the Tet holiday and instead stayed in the city to prepare for any urgent situation.

Ho Chi Minh City has been able to control the virus spread so far and is taking further measures to combat the pandemic.

In order to carry out developmental plans effectively in 2021, chairman Phong asked all sectors and citizens to continue focusing on COVID-19 prevention and control.

Everyone must strictly comply with the five rules including wearing face masks, disinfecting, keeping safe distance, avoiding gatherings of crowds, and filling out health declaration forms.

Local authorities are tasked with imposing hefty fines upon those breaking regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

The health sector must keep a sufficient number of test kits and maintain a testing capacity of 15,000 samples per 24 hours.

Detailed treatment plans must be made to prepare for scenarios when the city records 50-100 or 100-200 COVID-19 cases.

The city’s chairman also mentioned further support for local businesses that have been hit hard by the new wave of infections.

Relevant sectors must continue improving the investment environment, remove difficulties faced by businesses, and improve Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI).

Vietnam has documented 2,347 COVID-19 cases as of Friday afternoon, with 1,605 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

A total of 755 local infections have been recorded in 13 provinces and cities since January 27.

Among them, 36 cases were detected in Ho Chi Minh City.

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