HCMC streets packed as Covid restrictions approach

On Friday afternoon, after the local government said it would require people to "stay where they are" to isolate homes from homes, streets from streets and wards from wards, many, including delivery workers, are out on the streets.
Details about who would be allowed to go out and how people can get food and other essentials would be announced once the plan is ready, Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, head of the city Party Committee’s propaganda department, said.
In the photo, Hoang Hoa Tham overpass in Tan Binh District near Tan Son Nhat International Airport, is crowded with vehicles.

Cars and trucks on Pham Van Dong Street. The city of 13 million has had a series of social distancing mandates, with the latest one in place until September 15. People are also banned from going out between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for certain reasons like medical emergencies.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Friday that the military would coordinate with local authorities to ensure there is adequate food supply in the city amid social distancing.

The overpass on Nguyen Kiem and Nguyen Thai Son streets is also packed with people traveling from the city center to Go Vap District. There are three Covid-19 checkpoints in this area.

At a checkpoint near the Phu Nhuan crossroads, a dozen police officers check documents, causing congestion. One of them told VnExpress that since noon Friday an increasing number of people have been arriving, most of them with valid reasons.
According to local officials, the streets are crowded because many people are going to get vaccinated, others in certain jobs are allowed to go out to supply essential goods or work on infrastructure maintenance.

Rain cannot prevent Saigonese from going out. The photo shows the Lang Cha Ca overpass.

The Nguyen Van Troi and Hoang Van Thu junction is crowded after authorities removed a Covid checkpoint due to the rain.

Many people travel on Ba Thang Hai Street in District 10 late in the afternoon.

A Covid checkpoint on Calmette Bridge between Districts 1 and 4.

Many supermarkets are packed with shoppers.
HCMC, epicenter of the fourth Covid wave, has so far had 167,717 cases and 5,939 deaths.
The government wants the southern metro to bring the outbreak under control by September 15.