HCMC – Although the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in HCMC has shown positive results, the city will not be able to fully achieve new normal by November, said municipal chairman Phan Van Mai.
On the sidelines of the ninth congress of the municipal Party Committee’s executive board on October 14, Mai said the Government had issued Resolution 128 providing provisional rules on adapting safely and flexibly to the Covid-19 pandemic and controlling it effectively. Based on the resolution, HCMC will assess its pandemic transmission risk level, the local media reported.
The city will establish a working team, including officials of agencies and experts, to assess the situation in the city. In addition, it will hold a conference to discuss the fight against the pandemic and plans to help the economy recover in the coming periods.
Based on the Government’s resolution, the city will update and amend criteria for sectors.
The municipal chairman said the trajectory of the pandemic is still unpredictable, so it cannot be affirmed if the pandemic has been brought under control or not although the city has achieved some positive results in the anti-Covid fight.
He added that it is unknown when the city can begin practicing a new normal life.
He cited Singapore as an example, saying that the island-state planned to practice a new normal life for three-six months but the period was not steady due to an unexpected spike in new cases.
In HCMC, many production and business, learning and healthcare activities and many sectors have yet to resume normal operations, so the city has yet to fully return to the new normal.
However, the city has resumed many activities step by step to help life return to the new normal.
Mai said the city might pilot the resumption of on-site catering services in areas meeting safety requirements, probably in District 7. The city is cautiously considering District 7’s proposal to offer on-site catering services.