Official Dispatch 3818/UBND-KT Ho Chi Minh City 2021 regarding operations of food and beverage establishments

Pursuant to the Government's Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021, promulgating the Interim Regulation on “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic”;

Pursuant to the Ministry of Health's Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT dated October 12, 2021, issuing the Interim Guidance for implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021 promulgating the Interim Regulation on “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic”;

Pursuant to the Directive No. 18/CT-UBND dated September 30, 2021, of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, on continuing to control and revise COVID-19 prevention and control measures and gradually restore and develop the social economy in Ho Chi Minh City;

Pursuant to the Decision No. 3900/QD-UBND dated November 16, 2021, of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, on the interim regulation on measures for “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic” in Ho Chi Minh City;

Pursuant to the Report No. 5204/BC-SCT dated November 15, 2021 of the Department of Industry and Trade, on operations of food and beverage establishments in the City and opinions of the standing body of Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control at the progress meeting held on November 13, 2021, between Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and other localities on the pandemic prevention and control; reports on results of piloting to resume operations of food and beverage establishments selling alcohol in District 7 and Thu Duc City; and proposals of the Department of Industry and Trade provided in the Official Dispatch No. 5249/SCT-VP, on operations of food and beverage establishments;

Ho Chi Minh City hereby directs as follows:

1. To allow food and beverage establishments to resume operations from November 16, 2021 to the end of November 30, 2021 on a pilot basis, provided that the following conditions are satisfied:

a) Meeting requirements provided in the set of criteria for assessment of safe operations in the COVID-19 prevention and control at food service and food business establishments in Ho Chi Minh City (attached to the Decision No. 3677/QD-BYT dated October 27, 2021 of Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control).

b) Operation time: Until 22:00 every day.

c) Specific operations according to pandemic risk levels. To be specific:

+ Establishments in areas assessed as level-1 and level-2 areas shall operate normally.

+ Establishments in areas assessed as level-2 areas: may provide on-site dining services at no more than 50% of their capacity at a time;
It is not allowed to sell alcohol or permit customers to use alcohol at the establishments.

+ Establishments in areas assessed as level-4 areas: may only provide takeaway services.

2. After the pilot duration, People’s Committees of Thu Duc District and other districts shall synthesize, assess and draw on experiences and send them to the Department of Industry and Trade for synthesis and proposal to Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

3. Departments, sectors, agencies and People’s Committees of Thu Duc District and other districts shall, based on their tasks assigned in the Document No. 3569/UBND-KT dated October 27, 2021 of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, guide food and beverage establishments to fulfill safety requirements for COVID-19 prevention and control./.