HCMCity (VNS/VNA) - Many traditional markets in Ho Chi MinhCity are paying more attention to COVID-19 prevention, but some smalltraders and local residents are not taking necessary precautions.

Afterdetecting new COVID-19 cases at traditional markets in central Da Nang city,HCM City as well as others in the country have strengthened disease controland prevention measures at traditional markets and temporary markets.

Accordingto Sai Gon Giai Phong (LiberatedSai Gon) newspaper, small-scale traders and people without face masks couldbe seen on August 24 at Binh Khanh Market in District 2 where hundreds ofpeople come every day.

The samesituation was seen in Do Dac Market in District 2, where sellers andbuyers exchanged goods without wearing a mask.

AlongBui Huu Nghia Street, on the side of Ba Chieu Market in Binh ThanhDistrict, many people in shops and restaurants as well as smalltraders and street vendors were not wearing a face mask.Many people were also not following the recommendations to keep asafe distance from each other.

Atthe Hoa Binh Market in District 5, only a few people were wearing masksamid crowds of sellers and buyers. Even some sellers were eating withtheir hands that were used to receive money from customers.

Aman selling crabs in the market told SaiGon Giai Phong newspaper that he has a face mask, but took it offbecause the weather was too hot.

“Themarket is very noisy, and people cannot hear me clearly if I wear a facemask,” he said.

Keepinga safe distance of at least two metres at Go Vap Market in Go VapDistrict was implemented at stalls selling dried foods and processedfoods, but there were few people. However, customers stood close to eachother in crowds around the stalls selling meat and vegetables.

BinhTay Market in District 6, the city’s largest wholesale market anda tourist destination, has nearly 2,400 stalls with more than 5,600traders and shop assistants. It welcomes about 6,000 people every day,including tourists.

CaoVan Thanh, deputy head of the market’s management board, saidanyone failing to comply with anti-outbreak measures will be refusedentry into the market.

“There is still a highrisk of community transmission because a number of people outside themarket only wear face masks when we remind them,” he said.

Preventive measures

Thepeople’s committees of all districts in the city have supported the traditionalmarkets’ management boards on disease prevention and control by removingall temporary markets, among other measures.

Thecity has hundreds of traditional markets and thousands of temporary markets.

Themanagement board of Tan Dinh Market in District 1 has printedand distributed leaflets on disease prevention, and provided free dry hand-sanitiser geland face masks for people entering the market.

Amobile team has been set up at Hoc Mon Wholesale Market in Hoc Mon Districtwhere more than 20,000 people work every night.

Theteam informs people about preventive measures, measures the temperature oftraders, and regularly sprays disinfectant around the market stalls andvehicles carrying goods.

Themarket’s management board also offers free face masks and bottles ofhand sanitiser for everyone.

District8’s People’s Committee has assessed the risk of COVID-19transmission at 16 traditional markets, Binh Dien Wholesale Market, anddozens of supermarkets and commercial centres.

Mostunits have ensured preventive measures, but the risk ofinfection in the community remains high.

NguyenVan Hoang, a member of the Binh Dien Wholesale Market’s management board, saidtraders and buyers are required to wear masks, wash their hands, andtake their temperature before entering the market.

About15,000-20,000 people visit the 20,000sq.m market daily.

“Weset up a rapid response team to check and ask everyone to comply with theregulations, and strictly punish violators every night,” Hoang said.

Thecity’s People’s Committee has asked district authorities andmarket management boards to strengthen epidemic prevention, and conductrandom tests on people at risk of infection such as drivers andtraders at markets, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus./.