HCM City tightens countermeasures after new COVID-19 cluster detected
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has ordered the temporary closure of hair salons and suspension of all religious events and ceremonies after a new cluster of 25 COVID-19 cases related to a Christian church in Go Vap district was found.
Taking samples for COVID-19 testing in HCM City's Go Vap district (Photo: hcdc.vn)
HCMCity (VNA) - The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has ordered thetemporary closure of hair salons and suspension of all religious events andceremonies after a new cluster of 25 COVID-19 cases related to a Christianchurch in Go Vap district was found.
Religiousestablishments should not gather more than 10 people, Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said at an online meeting of the city’sSteering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on May 27.
Streetfood stalls should only sell takeaway, he said.
Heinstructed the Department of Health to ensure social distancing in high-riskareas based on the scale of outbreaks, and said it should try to detect thesource of transmission of the cases involving the Revival Ekklesia Mission.
Large-scaletesting should be carried out in all areas with incidence of COVID, he said.
TheHCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases should immediately carry out genesequencing of the samples from the 25 patients, he said.
Secretaryof the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen said since the spread has beenrapid, local authorities should work with relevant agencies to stamp it out.
Thepublic should be calm and pay attention to preventive measures, he said.
NguyenDuy Tan, head of the religious affairs division at the city Department of HomeAffairs, said the Revival Ekklesia Mission organises activitiesevery Sunday.
Accordingto the Department of Health, 67 people have been traced through contact tracing,all have been tested, and 23 have proved negative with the rest awaiting theirresults.
NguyenTri Dung, head of the city’s Centre for Diseases Control, warned that the viruscould be present and spread in the community.
Phonginstructed all apartment buildings and offices to tighten preventive measuresand set up prevention and control teams.
Authoritiesin districts should strengthen fines on people not wearing masks, he added.
Thecity also found nine crew members on the vessel Ashico Victoria, which arrivedfrom India on May 26, testing positive for COVID. The shipanchored outside Sai Gon Port.
Phongordered the Centre for Diseases Control and other relevant agencies to keep theship under surveillance./.
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Taking samples for COVID-19 testing in HCM City's Go Vap district (Photo: hcdc.vn) 
