Pham Duc Hai, Deputy Head of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, speaks at the Commitee’s meeting on August 20, 2021.

Pham Duc Hai, Deputy Head of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said at the Commitee’s meeting on Friday that the pandemic remains unpredictable in the city despite its best efforts to contain the deadly virus.

Therefore, the city has decided to tighten its current restriction measures, requiring residents to "stay where they are," isolating homes from homes, streets from streets and wards from wards.

COVID-19 tests will continue in high-risk areas and so will vaccination.

The city will ensure timely support for its citizens, including supply of essential goods, especially for disadvantaged people, Mr. Hai said.

Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, Head of the municipal Department of Communications and Education, said the new measure is a step-up from previous coronavirus control measures aimed at containing the pandemic by September 15. 

HCM city has recorded nearly 165,000 cases and more than 5,600 deaths since the latest wave of COVID-19 hit Vietnam in late April. 

The city has imposed a series of social distancing measures, which ban people from going out between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next day, except for an emergency reason.