According to Hai, Covid-19 prevention and control inspection teams have proposed the HCM City authorities to recognise Thu Duc City and the districts of Go Vap, Phu Nhuan, Tan Phu, Tan Binh, Nha Be, Can Gio, Cu Chi, 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 as being qualified as basically bringing the pandemic under control.

Meanwhile, Binh Tan and Binh Chanh districts have not yet contained the pandemic and the District 4, Binh Thanh and Hoc Mon are still waiting for evaluation reports from Covid-19 prevention and control inspection teams.

Many streets in HCM City have become congested after loosened social distancing measures

According to the Ministry of Health, a locality is acknowledged as containing Covid-19 when its weekly locally-infected Covid-19 cases drop against two consecutive weeks earlier and at least 50% against the week with the highest infections. In addition, it also has not recorded any new Covid-19 outbreak within seven days.

Over the past three days, around 5,300 companies in HCM City have registered for resume operations.

Hai, however, said that many local residents still ignore Covid-19 prevention regulations such as gathering and selling goods on streets.

Since October 1, HCM City has gradually eased social distancing measures to ensure the dual goal of containing the outbreak and revitalising the economy.