HCMC – The HCMC government has allowed karaoke lounges, discos, and dance clubs in the city to resume operations starting January 10, aimed at resuming employment and entertainment for local residents after an eight-month suspension induced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Duong Anh Duc, vice chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, today, January 4, signed a decision permitting a resumption of these services, as previously proposed by the city’s Department of Culture and Sports.
Providers of these services are required to follow the municipal government’s Covid safety protocols. They must ensure a minimum area of four square meters for each customer.
The district-level authorities citywide have to regularly monitor the operations of these businesses, only allow those meeting the authorities’ requirements to reopen, and adjust their operations based on the Covid transmission levels in each locality.
HCMC has around 500 karaoke lounges, bars and discos that had to suspend operations for nearly eight months to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Aside from meeting the demand for entertainment, the resumption of these services is expected to help promote tourism activities and economic recovery, said the department.
The fourth coronavirus wave in HCMC has been gradually brought under control thanks to a high vaccination rate and most businesses and manufacturing facilities have already restarted operations. In mid-November last year, the city issued Covid safety protocols for karaoke lounges, bars and clubs, paving the wave for their reopening.
For these services to reopen, employees must receive two vaccine shots or have recovered from Covid-19. Guests must also meet the same requirements or test negative for Covid within 72 hours before using these services.
In moderate- and high-risk areas, these services can operate at 50% and 25% capacity, respectively. In extremely high-risk areas, they must halt operations.
