Businesses reimpose Covid-19 safety measures after HCMC confirms local spread

By Anh Tu, Vien Thong December 3, 2020 | 07:37 pm PT

A security guard checks employees' temperature on a computer at Bitexco building in HCMC's District 1, December 3 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Dy Tung.

Some businesses in HCMC require their employees to make health declarations, cancel business trips and even work from home following the new Covid-19 outbreak.

A foreign communication technology company in District 1 has again begun to allow its employees to work from home.

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which runs all 22 civilian airports in the country, requires its employees to wear face masks while working and plans to limit crowds especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

It also instructed airports and ground service companies to ensure passengers furnish electronic medical declarations before boarding.

Carriers require passengers to wear face masks for the entire duration of the flight.

Some businesses have decided to cancel upcoming events. Japanese casual wear retailer Uniqlo has canceled an event meant to mark its first year anniversary in Vietnam.

"This was a very difficult decision, but Uniqlo believed that it would receive support from all parties for public health," a spokesperson said.

A logistics company in Tan Binh District has postponed all team events for the next two weeks and requires employees to postpone domestic business trips unless urgent.

It encourages them to have lunch at their desk to avoid gathering in the dining room.

Technology startup Be Group Corporation requires all employees to wear face masks, with security guards told not to allow anyone to enter or exit the building without one, a rule adopted by many companies in HCMC and Hanoi.

Be Group will limit face-to-face meetings and stop meeting clients and interviewing candidates, and all employees are required to make health declarations every Monday.

Ride-hailing business Grab Vietnam encourages its delivery staff to limit direct contacts with customers through contactless delivery. It will provide medical masks, gloves and hand sanitizer for free to drivers and delivery partners.

Since an English language teacher in HCMC tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday, at least two more cases have been confirmed, an infant nephew and a 28-year-old student of his.

He got it from a Vietnam Airlines flight attendant who had breached Covid-19 quarantine protocols .

Vietnam's current Covid-19 tally stands at 1,361.