A document issued Wednesday by Chinh requested the southern city to introduce "strong, decisive and comprehensive measures to cut the chain of transmissions and bring coronavirus outbreaks under control."

The city absolutely cannot allow any further large gatherings or social distancing violations, the document stressed.

HCMC would also need to coordinate with neighboring localities to control the flow of workers who live and work in different localities, including industrial parks and other businesses.

"There needs to be strict management of those driving vehicles in and out of HCMC to prevent infection, while making sure goods are still transported without inhibition and business operations remain at the highest level possible amid ongoing outbreaks," said Chinh.

The city must also deploy measures to maintain daily life, especially the poor and vulnerable who have no savings to fall back on during hard times. People must not go hungry due to the pandemic, he added.

While the city in its entirety has not officially been deemed a coronavirus hotspot yet, anyone who traveled from, to and between areas in the city must medically declare themselves.

As of Wednesday noon, HCMC has recorded 8,002 local Covid-19 cases as part of the fourth wave, a 888 cases increase from Tuesday noon.

Since the new wave started on April 27, Vietnam has recorded 19,238 local cases in 56 cities and provinces.

Viet Tuan