Government wants markets reopened after sellers are vaccinated

It said on Thursday cities and provinces should do so after all their managers, traders and laborers receive at least one dose of vaccination and their PCR tests for coronavirus show negative.

The markets should be disinfected daily and people should make health declarations and not come for work if they have symptoms like coughing, fever and sore throat.

Buyers should also make health declarations using QR codes, entry cards or coupons, wear masks, sanitize their hands, have their temperature checked, and maintain a social distance.

Goods vehicles going to markets should maintain movement logs and drivers should install health declarations and Covid-19 tracing applications like Bluezone.

Wholesale markets should establish a rapid test area where possible and anti-disease teams and hotlines.

"Authorized agencies can allow markets to resume operations if they meet the above requirements," the ministry said.

Cities and provinces could also identify other spots to set up makeshift markets, and people working there should be vaccinated and undergo frequent testing, it added.

Some wholesale markets in Hanoi and HCMC were shut down after vendors there contracted the new coronavirus.

Since the wave started on April 27, over 185,000 community transmissions have been recorded in 62 of Vietnam's 63 cities and provinces, with HCMC accounting for the most cases, more than 112,000.