HCMC to get 5 million samples for Covid-19 testing

The city plans to collect around 500,000 samples a day, according to HCMC’s Center for Disease Control (HCDC).

The subjects for taking samples from are citizens and workers in residential areas, industrial parks, export processing zones and high-tech zones. The exercise aims to screen, detect infections and avoid potential outbreak risks in the community.

In order to carry out the targeted sampling, the city has mobilized medical staff at hospitals, final year medical students and youth union members to assist with data entry.

The People's Committee of Thu Duc City and other districts will arrange sampling locations and mobilize a coordinating force to arrange time frames for sampling in each residential group, area, hamlet, ward, commune and town. During the process of taking samples, people are required to strictly follow Covid-19 prevention guidelines to avoid cross-contamination. The same applies for export processing zones, industrial parks and hi-tech zones.

Home to 13 million people including migrants, HCMC is in the midst of its largest Covid-19 outbreak ever, with 3,058 cases recorded between April 27 to June 27, the second-highest in the country's fourth wave, after Bac Giang Province in the north.

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long has said that Ho Chi Minh City has taken relatively early, timely and proactive measures during the outbreak. However, the city must strictly follow social distancing and implement testing in a more drastic and effective manner, he has said.