Vietnam Tightens Lockdown, Ho Chi Minh Residents Buy Up Daily Needs

JAKARTA - The Vietnamese government's plan to ban residents of Ho Chi Minh City from leaving their homes starting Monday has prompted residents to buy basic necessities.

As reported by Antara, Saturday, August 21, Vietnam's largest city has become the epicenter of the worst coronavirus outbreak, accounting for more than half the number of COVID-19 cases and 80 percent of the death toll.

The panic of residents buying basic necessities is interfering with the city government's efforts to deal with the escalating outbreak, a top official at the Vietnam News Agency said.

Long lines were seen in markets, while supermarket shelves in Ho Chi Minh City were empty on Saturday, witnesses and state media said.

"This looks chaotic", said a woman in District 2. "There are so many people scrambling to buy food and other essentials for the tough days ahead".

"I've bought some food because I don't want to starve to death before dying of the coronavirus".

Vietnam on Friday said it would deploy troops in Ho Chi Minh City to enforce the lockdown, as the city takes firm steps to slow the death rate from COVID-19.

The country's total cases have reached 323.000 with 7.540 deaths, according to health ministry data.

"The city is ready to supply its citizens with food and essential goods", Phan Van Mai, deputy head of the COVID-19 task force, was quoted as saying by state media.

The ruling Communist Party decided on Friday to replace Nguyen Thanh Phong as chairman of the city's People's Committee.

They did not give a reason, but analysts said Phong was replaced because he was judged to be unable to handle the outbreak.