Gridlocks force HCMC to remove Covid-19 hotspot barriers

On Tuesday morning, task forces guarding checkpoints around Go Vap District in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) had to let people pass through instead of having them stopped and checked.

This is due to traffic blockage to the district. In some areas, thousands of vehicles were stuck for hours in a tailback of around one kilometer.

Traffic jam seen at a Covid-19 checkpoint on Phan Van Tri Street of Go Vap District on June 1, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Aside from the large number of people that need to pass through Go Vap to access other districts, the other reason behind the gridlock was the necessity of providing documents, including IDs, healthcare declarations (either on printed files or smartphones) and most importantly, permission to travel through the area to get to work as provided by employers.

The process of checking commuters took a certain time, which meant many had to wait, resulting in the gridlock.

On the other hand, many had failed to submit the required papers and ended up getting stuck at the checkpoints, worsening conditions.

After waiting almost 40 minutes to show her required papers and pass through the checkpoint on Tuesday morning, Thanh Hien realized she did not meet the necessary demands.

Getting stuck in the middle of a crowd at the checkpoint, Hien said: "I didn't know about the rule until now."

Given the mass gatherings resulting from the heavy gridlock pose Covid-19 risks, authorities on Tuesday morning decided to remove all barriers to allow passage for several hours before replacing them later.

Go Vap chairman Nguyen Tri Dung said authorities will continue to strictly control access to the district and " remove barriers" to avoid mass gatherings in one place if necessary.

On Monday night, forces had already removed the barriers and replaced them later.

Motorbike drivers are stuck in a gridlock at a gateway into Go Vap District, June 1, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

The entire Go Vap District was put under isolation starting Monday.

Inside the district, Directive 16 is imposed to not allow gatherings of more than two people in public, require residents to only leave home for emergencies, buying food and medicine, and working in factories, production facilities and businesses that involve "essential" goods and services.

The district is the gathering point for members of Revival Ekklesia Mission, a Christian congregation.

Last Wednesday, a Covid-19 cluster emerged among members of the mission and since then, spread quickly with over 200 cases registered in HCMC and five other localities - Bac Lieu, Binh Duong, Long An, Tra Vinh in the south and the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.

After barriers were set up around Go Vap, it was regulated that all vehicles would not be allowed to stop inside but only pass through. Special cases include those carrying officials, ambulances, trucks transporting food and essential products, production materials, workers and experts.

Go Vap, with a total area of 19.7 square kilometers, is the second most populated district in HCMC after Binh Tan with a population of over 676,000 people.

HCMC has ordered social distancing for at least two weeks starting Monday, limiting gatherings of 20 people or more in one place and of 10 people or more outside workplaces, schools and hospitals. A minimum distance of two meters between people in public places should be ensured.

Stricter restrictions that ban gatherings of more than two people are imposed in Go Vap and its neighbor District 12's Thanh Loc Ward, home to 42,000 people.