The HCM City Department of Industry and Trade has asked the city's People's Committee to allow supermarkets, convenience stores, food stores and shippers to operate from 6am to 9pm every day during the period of social distancing.

The proposal aims to ensure the supply of goods and food to the public. The city has 92 supermarkets, 2,100 convenience stores and 522 grocery stores.

The People’s Committee has instructed the Department of Trade and Industry and large supermarket chains like Co.opmart, Lotte, Bach Hoa Xanh and Vinmart to work with authorities in all 21 districts and Thu Duc City to ensure distribution of goods.

Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, deputy director of the department, said that starting from Tuesday (September 7) the city will reopen the Binh Dien Wholesale Market in order to ensure food supply for HCM City.

The average daily consumption in the city of nearly 10 million is 10,964 tonnes of rice, meat, fruits, vegetables, and processed foods.

Last week, more than 25,000 shippers were allowed to resume operation.

Every day at 5-6am, shippers in very high-risk districts undergo rapid COVID-19 tests at medical stations operated by the military in city wards, and if results are negative, they will be allowed to operate.

Shippers in the remaining districts of HCMC will be tested twice a week.

In order to ensure social distancing, the military and police personnel since August 23 have helped community-based COVID-prevention groups and volunteers shop and deliver food to people once a week. — VNS