HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Supermarkets,shopping centres and traditional and wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh Cityhave assessed their COVID-19 infection risks through a setof evaluation indicators and have set safety measures to meet the city’srequirements.

The city’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Preventionand Control launched the assessment tool as part of a programmeto help local businesses reopen. 

The city’s Department of Industry and Tradeprovided assessment guidance to people's committees in all 24districts and to management boards at wholesale markets, traditionalmarkets, supermarkets and trading centres.

The department also worked with the Departmentof Information and Communications to inform residents about shopping placesthat meet the requirements for reopening.

So far, three wholesale markets, 216supermarkets and 40 trading centres have sent theirself-assessment reports to the department.

The People's Committees in 24 districtshave reported that 196 out of 197 traditional markets have met thesafety requirements. Dinh Market in Hoc Mon district is takingmeasures to overcome its shortcomings.

From April 28 to May 7, the Department ofIndustry and Trade in collaboration with the People's Committees in 24districts checked 17 places to ensure they were applying safetymeasures. Most of the places met 80 percent of the requirements foroperation.

More than 85 percent of enterprises in thecity have been affected by the pandemic, including 87 percent ofbusinesses in the retail sector, according to the city’sStatistics Office.

In the first five months of the year,total retail sales of consumer goods and services have been estimatedat 506 trillion VND (21.7 billion USD), a decrease of 4.9 percent comparedto the same period last year.

Of the figure, retail sales of goods in thefirst five months has been estimated at 331 trillion VND (13.4 billion USD),a year-on-year increase of 8.4 percent, accounting for 65 percent of totalretail sales of consumer goods and services.

Retail sales of goods are recovering, but arestill slow because purchasing power and rental demand have beenaffected. 

Purchasing power increased by 10-15 percentafter the social distancing order was relaxed, with a higherincrease at retail channels such as supermarkets, hypermarkets andconvenience stores.

In the second quarter, retail anddistribution systems have launched promotion campaigns to promotepurchases through mobile phones, websites and apps, andhave offered attractive delivery policies.

The shift from traditionaloffline channels to online sales has helped businesses improverevenue./.