In a document sent by the department to the municipal People’s Committee on Tuesday, it suggests food and beverage establishments in the city be allowed on-site services, under the condition that they satisfy certain Covid-19 prevention criteria, drawn up by the People’s Committee.
Establishments would operate until 9 p.m. at half their maximum capacity, except for restaurants with wedding venues, at residential facilities and at tourist attractions. No alcohol would be allowed, except for certain locations in District 7 and Thu Duc City as part of a trial. The exact locations would be decided by the People’s Committees of District 7 and Thu Duc City, both home to large expat communities.
Previously on Sunday, the Food Safety Management Authority of Ho Chi Minh City sent the People's Committee a draft regarding safety criteria for food and beverage establishments to resume operations while preventing Covid-19. Six criteria would be required for such services to resume, including no air conditioning and no alcohol.
The authority said allowing alcohol would make people stay longer and may cause them to "act without restraint," leading to heightened coronavirus risks.
Impacts of the pandemic have forced food and beverage businesses in the southern metropolis to suspend on-site operations for around five months.
Around 7,500 businesses and thousands of families are working in the field across the city, according to the trade department.
Throughout the past eight months, the revenues of food and beverage establishments in the city were only around VND32 trillion ($1.4 billion), a 20 percent reduction from the same period last year. Dismal sales performance has caused numerous shops to close up for good.