Health workers, police officers, and soldiers have been working around the clock at 12 COVID-19 checkpoints at Ho Chi Minh City’s gateways to keep the southern economic hub away from the coronavirus.

The checkpoints were put into operation from 0:00 on Saturday.

Health workers, police officers, and soldiers are on duty 24/7 to run temperature checks on all arrivals in the city, as well as requiring them to fill out health declaration forms.

Those with body temperature of above 37.5 degrees Celsius are required to wait for a short period of time before being measured for the second time, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control.

If their body temperature remains high, they will be sent to the nearest hospital for further monitoring.

If they are diagnosed with a fever at the infirmary, an epidemiological investigation will be conducted to decide whether they need to be quarantined and tested for COVID-19.

Staff at the checkpoints are also in charge of detecting those escaping from local quarantine facilities and handing them over to health authorities.

On Saturday morning, health workers and officers examined a total of 9,556 people, including 10 foreigners, none of whom displayed unusual signs.

“This is our responsibility,” said Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Dung, who is on duty at one of the checkpoints.

“We all try our best to contribute the COVID-19 prevention and control efforts in Ho Chi Minh City.”

Vietnam has documented 4,118 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday afternoon, with 2,668 recoveries and 36 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 1,086 local infections in 26 provinces and cities since April 27.

Ho Chi Minh City has logged only one local case during this period.

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