92,000 shippers to resume work in HCMC

By Huu Cong September 20, 2021 | 12:53 am PT

Shippers wait to be tested for Covid-19 in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, Sep. 20, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Ho Chi Minh City is set to have 92,000 registered shippers resume work, which could overwhelm local testing facilities.

As of Sunday, 82,000 shippers have registered to resume work, tripling from two days before, said Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, deputy director of the Department of Industry and Trade.

The city requires shippers to have their samples taken at over 500 testing facilities from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. once every two days, which has caused an overload due to the large numbers, he said.

HCMC Department of Health has reported a shortage of rapid test kits at these facilities. It is set to ask for more from district authorities.

HCMC started letting shippers work inter-district from Sept. 16. The city will pay for their tests until the end of Sept. 30.

Businesses can let their employees delivery products but within districts only and have to pay for their tests.

Of over 10,000 Covid-19 cases Vietnam recorded Sunday, 5,500 were in HCMC.