Functional forces in Binh Tan and Phu Nhuan Districts, Ho Chi Minh City collected a combined amount of nearly VND100 million (US$4,355) in fines from social distancing violators on Friday -- the first day the city has escalated pandemic prevention and control measures.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities have had task forces patrol many streets to ensure that all citizens strictly follow the 15-day social distancing order in accordance with the prime minister’s Directive No. 16.

Gatherings of over two people and outdoor trips without proper reasons are among the stipulated restrictions.

Administrtive fines for such violations range between VND1 million ($43) and VND20 million ($869).

In Binh Tan District, fines for social distancing violations topped VND50 million ($2,177) on Friday, according to Nguyen Van Su, head of the district’s Urban Management Office.

The district also penalized people for violating public order with a total fine of nearly VND50 million on the same day, Su added.

From June 20, when Ho Chi Minh City was applying restrictions under the Directive No. 10, to Friday, the district handled a total of 1,075 cases for the two aforementioned violation types, collecting approximately VND970 million ($42,250) in fines.

An officer checks personal documents belonging to a commuter on a street in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, July 9, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

In Phu Nhuan District, the local People’s Committee established 68 medical checkpoints and 26 patrol teams, mobilizing a total of 478 staff members, to inspect the implementation of social distancing across its 13 wards.

On Friday, the district’s task forces penalized 25 cases a total of about VND40 million ($1,724) for violating social distancing rules.

Ho Chi Minh City has been hard hit by a new round of coronavirus infections, which erupted in Vietnam on April 27, with hundreds of new cases recorded on a daily basis.

It is leading the country’s tally in this round with 10,815 infections so far.

The current 15-day of social distancing drive in the city is expected to help curb the virus spread.

Vietnam has recorded 26,608 COVID-19 cases, with 8,984 recoveries and 110 deaths, since early 2020.

The number of domestic infections documented since April 27 was 23,126 as of Saturday morning.

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