HCMC plans on-site dining service for low-risk areas

"Ho Chi Minh City will gradually resume on-site dining and other services so people could regain their livelihoods," city chairman Phan Van Mai told the press Friday.

From next week, the city would start allowing eateries in low-risk areas to serve customers on their premises, he said.

Mai added it "will not have a general formula that applies for all districts and wards."

Areas with low risks would be allowed to resume more services than those posing medium or high risks.

The city will announce the level of risk for each district later.

After its outbreak was basically put under control, the city announced to ease Covid-19 restrictions and resumed a series of socio-economic activities on Oct. 1.

However, restaurants and eateries can still only serve takeaways.

Activities and businesses that continue to be suspended include bars, spas, karaoke and massage parlors, beauty care, on-site catering, cinemas, disco, video game, cultural, and artistic services, along with launch ceremonies (unless permitted by competent agencies), and street vending, including lottery ticket sales.

In a proposal sent to the city administration Tuesday, the Industry and Trade Department urged to have all restaurants and eateries resume on-site services, except for those offering alcoholic drinks.

The department said the city should allow more activities to resume, given its high vaccination rate. Around 5.5 million people in HCMC, or more than 75 percent of its adult population, have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, it noted.