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HCM City will tighten its social distancing order starting August 23.

Amid persistent Covid-19 threats, the city has decided to tighten its current restriction measures, requiring residents to "stay where they are," isolating homes from homes, streets from streets and wards from wards.

The southern metropolis will continue to supply its citizens with essential goods and care for them, especially those in difficult circumstances and other vulnerable communities, according to Pham Duc Hai, deputy head of the city Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

Meanwhile, special working groups will be set up at wards or areas listed as high-risk and extremely high-risk zones to inspect the observance of social distancing measures and maintain green zones.

The city will work harder to care for Covid-19 patients, particularly those with severe conditions, further conduct mass testing and accelerate the vaccination rollout.

Police in HCM City check people on the streets after 6 p.m. on July 26, the day the night-time restriction took effect. Photo: VNA

Who can go out?

There are certain groups that can go out during the social distancing period, but they have to present necessary papers.

Shippers who utilize tech apps in Thu Duc city, Districts 8 and 12, and Go Vap, Binh Tan, Binh Thanh, Binh Chanh and Hoc Mon districts must halt services. For the rest of HCM City, shippers will only be allowed to operate within one district and cannot travel to others.

The 30 groups granted with papers to go out include members of all-level steering committees for Covid-19 prevention and control, forces involved in the pandemic fight, workers who fix electricity and other infrastructure problems; and public servants and employees of agencies, with the number not surpassing 10 percent of the total workforce.

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street is deserted even before 6 p.m. on July 26. Photo: VNA

Other special cases are officials and employees of Party agencies, organisations and the fatherland front; those working in essential services like finance, banking and the stock market; employees in transport, telecommunications, post, notarization, funerals, security and insurance services; delivery people shipping essential goods and medical equipment in service of the pandemic combat; employees of production and export-import facilities, gas shops and petroleum stations; environmental workers; diplomats; and journalists.

Vehicles on the Nguyen Van Cu Street in HCM City's District 5, August 18, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

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