Official Dispatch 3072/UBND-VX 2021 Ho Chi Minh City COVID-19 prevention measures from September 16, to September 30, 2021

To:

- Heads of Departments, sectors, and branches;

- Chairpersons of People’s Committees of Thu Duc City and other districts;

- Enterprises located in Ho Chi Minh City.

Pursuant to the Government's Resolution No. 86/NQ-CP dated August 06, 2021, on urgent COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures to implement the Resolution No. 30/2021/QH15 dated July 28, 2021, of the 15^th National Assembly, which requires Ho Chi Minh City to strive to put the pandemic under control before September 15, 2021;

Pursuant to the Ministry of Health's Decision No. 3979/QD-BYT dated August 18, 2021, on promulgating the “Criteria for controlling COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City during the social distancing period under the Prime Minister's Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020”;

In the implementation of the Plan No. 3066/KH-UBND dated September 15, 2021, of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, on COVID-19 prevention and control, and the City's economic recovery after September 15, 2021; in order to strive to put the pandemic under control and deploy the City's roadmap to the new normal, the Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee hereby directs as follows:

1. To extend the social distancing and other pandemic prevention and control measures in the City in line with the Prime Minister's Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020, Plan No. 2715/KH-BCD dated August 15, 2021, of Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and Directive No. 11/CT-UBND dated August 22, 2021, of the Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee from 00:00 on September 16, 2021, to the end of September 30, 2021, in every area in a strict, drastic and effective manner for COVID-19 prevention and control.

2. To continue granting travel papers for subject groups allowed to join traffic in accordance with the Official Dispatch No. 2800/UBND-VX dated August 21, 2021, Official Dispatch No. 2850/UBND-VX dated August 23, 2021, Official Dispatch No. 2994/UBND-DT dated September 07, 2021, promulgated by Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; travel papers granted by Ho Chi Minh City Public Security Department shall remain valid until the end of September 30, 2021.

3. The provision of essential commodities, food, and foodstuffs for citizens shall continue following guidelines in the Plan No. 2798/KH-UBND dated August 21, 2021, and Official Dispatch No. 2994/UBND-DT dated September 07, 2021, of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

4. Localities where the pandemic has been basically put under control such as District 7, Cu Chi District, Can Gio District; export processing zones and industrial parks located in such districts, and hi-tech zones may pilot the following activities:

- Citizens shall be allowed to go shopping once a week according to the Plan approved by Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

- More production and business fields may operate according to the Plans of local People’s Committees, provided that they satisfy the Safety Criteria issued by Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

- Management Boards of export processing zones and industrial parks, Management Boards of hi-tech zones shall actively provide guidance for enterprises in organizing production plans in accordance with the Plan No. 2715/KH-BCD dated August 15, 2021, of Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the Safety Criteria issued by Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

- COVID-19 Green Cards and personal QR codes shall be piloted; while ensuring the 5K rules and periodic antigen tests. The Department of Information and Communications is assigned to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Department of Health, Public Security Department, Management Boards of export processing zones and industrial parks, Management Board of hi-tech zones of Ho Chi Minh City and localities in, consulting the implementation.

5. To adjust and supplement several activities in the City:

5.1. Deliverymen of enterprises providing goods delivery service using technology application (shipper) are allowed to operate among districts and Thu Duc City from 6:00 to 21:00 daily, provided that they satisfy measures for safety in pandemic prevention and control, and conduct pooled testing in groups of 3 people every two days. The City’s budget shall pay testing costs for such forces until the end of September 30, 2021.

5.2. Enterprises and households operating in the following business lines (having business registration licenses) shall be allowed to operate from 6:00 to 21:00 daily:

- Portal and communications service; computers, learning tools, and equipment.

- Foodservice not serving on-site, only for take-out; such businesses must operate on a "three-on-site" method, selling only through online ordering.

- Service of supporting agricultural production and veterinary facilities.

- Service of maintenance and repair of works, machinery, and equipment, means of transport, and supply of components and spare parts for this activity.

- Production, processing, trading, and import of foods and foodstuffs.

5.3. Operating conditions for enterprises and households mentioned in Section 5.2 of this Official Dispatch:

- The employing of deliverymen by enterprises providing goods delivery service using technology application (shipper) shall comply with Section 5.1 of this Official Dispatch.

- Deliverymen of enterprises and households may operate in only one district or Thu Duc City; they must follow measures for safety in pandemic prevention and control, and must be conducted pooled testing in groups of 3 people every two days. Testing costs shall be paid by enterprises and households.

- Employees directly working at the workplace must be given at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine and be tested every five days by taking a single sample or pooled sample for a group of 3 people. Testing costs shall be paid by enterprises and households.

- Enterprises and households operating in business lines mentioned in Section 5.2 must register with People's Committees of districts, Thu Duc City, wards, communes, or townships to be granted the travel papers in accordance with Section 2 of this Official Dispatch.

5.4. Construction works and traffic works are allowed to be constructed but must follow the Safety Criteria issued by Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. Departments and branches, People's Committees of Thu Duc City, and other districts shall, based on the pandemic prevention and control in localities, propose the list of specific works. The Department of Construction is assigned to assume the prime responsibility for, and consult Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee for consideration and decision.

5.5. Regarding sports activities in parks of residential areas or condominiums in “green areas”: Chairpersons of Thu Duc City and other districts are assigned to direct Chairpersons of People's Committees of wards, communes, and townships to consider deciding and permitting such activities to resume operation in case they follow the 5K principles and ensure safety in pandemic prevention and control.

6. Implementation organization:

6.1. To assign People's Committees of District 7, Cu Chi District, and Can Gio District to pilot according to the roadmap specified in Section 4, urgently prepare pilot plans, organize the assessment, and propose Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee for approval. Regarding other localities, Chairpersons of Thu Duc City and other districts shall depend on the pandemic control in the localities to propose the pilot resumption of several activities if conditions for safety in pandemic prevention and control are satisfied.

6.2. To assign the Department of Health to strictly follow the pandemic development in piloting areas, consult the treatment, and send supporting forces in case of necessity; evaluate the effect, impact, and pandemic situation in piloting areas; consult Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee for appropriate direction at the end of the pilot period.

6.3. To assign Ho Chi Minh City Public Security Department to base on the list of qualified employees registered by individuals, organizations, and enterprises with Departments, sectors, branches, and People's Committees of Thu Duc City and other districts, control those who join traffic by QR codes and other information technology solutions in combination with professional measures of police sector; propose the Ministry of Public Security to connect data to pilot COVID-19 Green Cards in accordance with Section 4 of this Official Dispatch.

6.4. To assign the Department of Home Affairs to consult Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee about the working methods applicable to state administrative agencies from September 16, 2021, according to the pandemic control in the City.

6.5. To request Heads of Departments, sectors, and branches; Chairpersons of People's Committees of Thu Duc City and other districts, and enterprises located in Ho Chi Minh City to prepare plans and scenarios, plans to handle risks, and organize the above-mentioned contents. At the same time, they are requested to establish the Steering Committee, and sub-committees and develop plans for coordination, monitoring, and inspection of the pandemic situation; timely adjust arising problems; promptly report difficulties arising in the course of implementation; take responsibility before the Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee for non-observance of regulations or any complicated issues affecting the pandemic prevention and control in their respective areas and fields./.