Starting from Wednesday, people in Ho Chi Minh City will incur civil penalties if they are spotted not wearing face masks in public, said leaders of the traffic police bureau in Ho Chi Minh City.

Specifically, traffic police will levy a fine of VND1-3 million (US$43-130) on individuals who fail to comply with face mask donning laws in public.

Inter-provincial bus routes will also be subject to a penalty if they fail to keep a safe distance between passengers, or exceed the passenger number cap stipulated by law.

Traffic police will also keep an eye on criminal violations, or complications out of their authority, before reporting them to related forces for further handling. 

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.

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.

As the fourth wave of the coronavirus epidemic wreaks havoc, Ho Chi Minh City is doubling down to curb the spread of the pathogen. 

On Wednesday, the city documented its first-ever coronavirus-related death -- a woman who had suffered end-stage chronic renal failure.

Ho Chi Minh City has logged 227 infections in this round, 219 of which were traced back to a religious mission in Go Vap District.

The southern city reinstated enhanced social distancing on Monday, slated to last for 15 days.

Non-essential businesses have been closed while the elderly are advised to stay home.

Vietnam has logged 7,673 patients as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Ministry of Health.

Recoveries have reached 3,043 while the death toll has hit 49.

Vietnam has fought four virus waves so far, the latest being the worst.

The country has been struggling with the fourth wave since April 27, with 4,597 domestic cases reported.

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