Dong Nai isolates workers from Ho Chi Minh City

There are more than 6,000 workers residing in Dong Nai province commuting each day to industrial zones like Cat Lai, Linh Trung, Binh Chieu, and Le Minh Xuan 3

On June 4, Dong Nai People's Committee issued an urgent document announcing mandatory quarantine requirements for people returning to/from Ho Chi Minh City.

Accordingly, from 0:00 today (June 5), Dong Nai directed people in question to stay in quarantine at home or their accommodation for 21 days. At the same time, the province will collect samples of people in isolation to test for COVID-19 on the 7th and 14th days. Those who do not comply with the policy will be severely penalised.

During this time, provincial leaders asked officials, public employees, and workers in Dong Nai province not to travel to Ho Chi Minh City. Special exceptions must be agreed in writing by the heads of the agencies.

Additionally, passenger transport between Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, including contract cars, coaches, taxis, and fixed-route vehicles are also temporarily suspended.

Phan Huy Anh Vu, director of Dong Nai Department of Health, explained that people commuting from the pandemic area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City from June 5 can either work normally in Dong Nai or work from home in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, Dong Nai residents commuting to Ho Chi Minh City will need to either rent accommodations and stay in Ho Chi Minh City during this time or stay in Dong Nai and work from home.

He also confirmed that the transportation of goods would not be hindered. For example, delivery drivers to Dong Nai will only need to make a medical declaration and will be allowed to return to Ho Chi Minh City without having to sit in quarantine for 21 days. However, businesses with drivers carrying essential goods must draw up pandemic prevention plans for their drivers.

He said that the province must apply the above measures because there are more than 10,000 experts and workers from Ho Chi Minh City working in the province. “If all these people are allowed to go back and forth between the two cities, there will certainly be an outbreak in Dong Nai, especially in the current situation,” he added.

However, representatives of enterprises from Saigon Hi-tech Park (SHTP) Management Authority, Ho Chi Minh City Industrial and Export Processing Zones Management Authority (HEPZA), and the Vietnam Logistics Business Association said that Dong Nai's policy could disrupt raw material suppliers, production, and business activities.

Meanwhile, Hua Quoc Hung, director of HEPZA, said that there are more than 6,000 workers residing in Dong Nai who move each day to industrial zones like Cat Lai, Linh Trung, Binh Chieu, and Le Minh Xuan 3 to work.

At the same time, a great volume of goods are imported and exported through the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex or transported between Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh Ctiy to support production.

“The implementation of the contents of the dispatch of Dong Nai will directly affect the production materials supply of manufacturers. The circulation of goods and the movement of workers will be limited, and it is unlikely that businesses in HEPZA will be able to maintain production," said Hung.