HCMC delivery people to ship goods to only one district to prevent Covid spread

By Anh Tu, Huu Cong July 26, 2021 | 07:51 pm PT

A ride-hailing driver delivers a parcel to a field hospital complex in HCMC's Thu Duc City in July 2021. Photo by VnExpress.

HCMC authorities have decided that delivery people shipping essential goods can only do so in one district each to minimize possible spread of Covid-19 by them.

On Monday, they also instructed tech-based transport firms to issue their employees badges using QR code-based identifying technologies and armbands with the word ‘Shipper’ printed on it in white.

All delivery people have to wear the photo-embedded badges and armbands for easy recognition and regulation, and are encouraged to test for coronavirus once a week.

The companies have also been told to temporarily reduce the number of shippers by 10 percent.

Delivery staff at supermarkets and convenience stores too need to comply with these requirements.

The delivery companies and supermarkets will send a daily list of shippers and their goods to the departments of industry and trade and transport for registration and oversight. The departments will send text messages to shippers for confirmation.

Similarly, the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has asked all shippers to send their list of employees delivering goods by motorbike, and it will confirm their eligibility.

Both Hanoi and HCMC have mandated social distancing.

Vietnam has recorded 105,287 local Covid-19 patients in 62 cities and provinces since the new wave started three months ago. Of these, 489 have died, according to the Health Ministry.