Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Ward 3, and members of other organizations go shopping for people in lockdown areas. (photo: VOV)

HCMC has been in stricter social distancing since August 23. Go Vap district immediately adopted a model of shopping for people who couldn’t shop for themselves.

Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Ward 3, says Women’s Union members receive orders from people in lockdown areas and go buy the things for them. Donated goods will also be delivered from door to door.

“People in lockdown areas write down what they want to buy and contact us via Zalo group chat. Then we go shopping for them. We wear masks and gloves and disinfect our hands whenever we have contact with them. We want people in lockdown areas to feel comfortable and safe,” Loan said.

The ‘shopping for people’ model has been applied in 34 wards of Thu Duc City by members of social organizations, anti-COVID-19 community teams, and other volunteers.

Tran Thi Thu Hoai, Chairwoman of Tang Nhon Phu A ward, said: “We’re on duty around the clock. When there are sick people who need medicines, we go buy them immediately.”

The Youth Union and other social organizations in Long An province have taken on the task of shopping for and delivering goods to isolated people. Members of the Women’s Union and Youth Union of Nhon Ninh commune receive orders every morning and go shopping. The goods are delivered directly to their door in the afternoon.

Voõ Tien Phong, Secretary of Nhon Ninh commune’s Youth Union, said: “People involved in the program are tested for COVID-19 every week. We always abide by current pandemic measures while shopping and delivering goods. If people pay us in cash, we have to keep a safe distance and disinfect all money we receive.”

The ‘shopping for people’ model has been replicated in 14 districts and Tay An city in Long An province. It’s helping people get what they need while they are social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.