HCMC – Dong Nai Province, the country’s third biggest coronavirus hotbed, is planning to gradually reopen the areas now safe from Covid-19, also known as “green zones”, after September 15, in preparation for slowly resuming all activities starting from mid-October.
According to a draft plan issued on September 13, in the first phase from September 15 to October 15, the province will review the vaccination rate and the risk of coronavirus infection in different areas to let “green zones” to reopen activities.
In the second phase, after October 15, the province will restart all services and activities, while ensuring safety during the fight against the Delta variant of the coronavirus, which has now become dominant in the country.
Dong Nai currently has 75 communes and wards recognized as “green zones”, mainly in Tan Phu, Dinh Quan, Xuan Loc, Thong Nhat and Cam My districts and Long Khanh City, the local media reported.
Accordingly, after September 15, household businesses and firms which supply necessities in “green zones” might be allowed to reopen if their employees get at least one shot 14 days prior to the reopening and strictly follow the safety protocols.
As for residents who are fully vaccinated or Covid-19 patients who have recovered over the past six months, they will be allowed to go out for essential reasons from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day.
Firms applying the stay-at-work mode can change employees, who must live in Covid-safe areas and get at least one shot of the Covid vaccine, to maintain their production activities, but must ensure no positive cases are detected there. Their employees must test negative for Covid three days before the change.
Under the plan for the new normal, Dong Nai Province will allow construction sites in “green zones” to resume work, but workers must be partially or fully vaccinated and test negative for the virus three days before their work.
In addition, residents in Covid-safe areas might travel between areas safe from Covid.
Sports and cultural events and services will remain suspended until further notice, according to the draft plan.
Dong Nai Province has reported 35,901 cases, with 15,000 patients having fully recovered and 320 deaths, according to the province’s anti-virus steering committee.
Over 1.6 million people aged 18 and above have been vaccinated, with 73,000 people receiving two shots. The province targets to give all adults at least one shot each before September 15.
