A group of four are facing a fine of VND1-3 million (US$43-130) each after they were caught not wearing face masks while taking a rest after shooting a film at 23/9 Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

A task force of Pham Ngu Lao Ward in District 1 patrolling at the park noticed the maskless group and requested them to put face masks on as per the city’s regulations.

As the group members talked back and made excuses for not wearing a face mask in such a public place, the task force decided to book them with a record of administrative violation to show deterrence.

“We don’t know what is happening,” a member in the group of four said.

“We haven’t been updated on the continuation of fines for not wearing a mask."

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City had announced they would fine people for failing to wear a face mask in public from August 5, 2020 as one of their COVID-19 prevention and control measures and have yet to scrap the regulation.

According to a government decree that took effect from September 28, 2020, failure to practice personal protection measures as instructed by health authorities among those at risk of catching diseases shall carry a fine of VND1-3 million.

However, many people and business establishments have shown their negligence of coronavirus safety protocols recently, according to Nguyen Minh Phuc, an official of Pham Ngu Lao Ward in District 1.

In addition to the group of four, the Pham Ngu Lao functional forces detected and booked two other maskless men at 23/9 Park on the same afternoon.

On Monday evening, they had also caught ten other cases of people not wearing a face mask on Bui Vien Street in District 1.

Regarding the booked violation cases, Phuc said within seven days after the date of the administrative record issuance, the Pham Ngu Lao Ward authorities will send a notice to the localities where the violators reside, and at the same time coordinate with such localities to urge them to go to the ward’s office to settle the payment.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!