HCMC – The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho decided to switch to practicing less stringent anti-Covid measures under the prime minister’s Directive 15 starting today, September 24, as the Covid situation in the city has been brought under control.
The municipal chairman Tran Viet Thuong last night issued the decision to ease mobility restrictions in 74 of the 83 communes and wards in the city’s nine districts. Accordingly, Can Tho is reportedly the last locality in the delta to ease restrictions, reported VnExpress.
Under Directive 15, large gatherings of over 10 people outside offices, schools, and hospitals are banned. People are allowed to commute among localities within the city, but must not leave the city or go to extremely high-risk Covid areas without the authorities’ permission.
The city continues to suspend public passenger transport services, wholesale markets, wet markets, festivals, tourism and cultural, sports and entertainment events.
Shopping malls, supermarkets and convenience stores are allowed to operate but must follow anti-virus measures and not serve more than 10 people at the same time. Eateries are required to offer take-away services only.
The operations of businesses, factories and manufacturing facilities have to follow the city’s economic restoration plan. State agencies can resume normal operations, provided their events and meetings gather no more than 20 people in a room.
Meanwhile, the remaining nine wards that are still at extremely high risk, such as An Hoa, An Khanh, Hung Loi in Ninh Kieu District and Hung Phu, Phu Thu in Cai Rang District will continue following the stay-at-home mandate under the prime minister’s Directive 16 until October 1.
The municipal chairman asked the district leaders to take extra anti-virus measures or adjust their Covid alerts based on the Covid situation in their localities, continue to test residents in high-risk areas and enforce a proper lockdown.
Chairman Thuong also called on local residents to stay alert to further possible outbreaks and practice anti-Covid measures.
According to the city’s anti-Covid authority, the number of locally-infected cases in the city has declined over the past two weeks.
Since July 8, Can Tho has reported more than 5,400 infections, including nearly 4,500 recoveries and 78 fatalities. The city has vaccinated over 320,000 people, with nearly 48,000 of them being fully vaccinated.
