Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have allowed delivery workers to resume operation in districts at high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

App-based delivery service is now resumed in Thu Duc City, District 8, District 12, Go Vap District, Binh Tan District, Binh Thanh District, Binh Chanh District, and Hoc Mon District.

The service had been suspended in these high-risk areas from August 23, when city authorities began implementing a shelter-in-place mandate.

However, this has resulted in a lot of difficulties in the delivery of food and essentials to local residents over the past days, according to vice-chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Thi Thang.

With the suspension removed, the number of delivery workers across the city’s 21 districts and Thu Duc City has increased to about 25,000.

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, delivery workers in high-risk areas are required to undergo testing at 5:00-6:00 am every day.

At least one testing site must be established in each ward for the task, officials said.

Meanwhile, delivery staff in other districts where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower have to be tested twice a week.

The municipal Department of Public Security will direct district-level police units to closely manage delivery workers with the help of information technology, while the Department of Health is in charge of conducting regular COVID-19 tests on these individuals.

Vietnam had documented 422,469 COVID-19 cases by Sunday morning, with 210,989 recoveries and 10,405 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 418,320 local infections in 62 out of 63 provinces and cities since the fourth wave started on April 27.

Ho Chi Minh City is hardest-hit with nearly 205,000 cases.

The municipal authorities have enforced a social distancing drive at various levels since May 31 and asked people to stay where they are from August 23 to September 6, as part of their drastic measures to push back the serious pandemic, with the participation of police and soldiers.

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