Preventing the spread of Covid-19 at spontaneous markets

​Strictly comply with the regulations

Ms. Le Thi Mai, a small trader selling meat at a spontaneous market in the Ho Nai Industrial Zone area (Ho Nai 3 Commune), said that, on the first day after being reminded by the functional forces, many small traders at the market obeyed, cleaned up business spots that encroach on the roadside. Goods that have not been consumed in time will be delivered to the buyers. “The whole family lives on my business, but if I don't comply, I can't do business because of the disease spreads. I hope Dong Nai will quickly put an end to the epidemic so that the situation will be more stable, when the government allow us to sell again, we will continue our selling," said Mai.

Ms. Vu Thi Minh Chau, Chairwoman of Trang Bom District People's Committee said that starting from July 7, the District People's Committee has closed the market spontaneously, prohibiting street sales and unnecessary gathering transactions. Localities assign chairpersons of People's Committees of communes and townships to make propaganda, inspect and handle violations. Mobilizing small businesses and traders to close their stores until the epidemic is temporarily stabilized then reopen again.

In order to limit the risk of disease spreading, for nearly a week, the People's Committee of Tan Phong Ward (Bien Hoa City) has suspended the operation of temporary and spontaneous markets in the area. Different from the image of trolleys and homemade cars stopping vertically at the middle of the market to trade as usual, the landscape at the spontaneous market area on Nguyen Van Tien Street (KP.9, Tan Phong Ward) becomes clear now. The traffic traveling is convenient and there is no traffic jam as it was before.

Mr. Ho Van Quyen, who specializes in selling fish at this market, said that as soon as this regulation was issued, in the morning and afternoon, the Public Security force of wards, urban order forces, etc went to control to avoid the establishment of temporary markets in the absence of authorities. When people stopped the vehicles crowdedly, the authorities immediately showed up to ask for a distance. “From early in the morning, officials of ward and urban order announced that they had to stop selling. The regulations have come into effect, I have to follow because if I don't comply with it, I will be fined," Quyen said.

The representative of the People's Committee of Tan Phong Ward added that at all spontaneous markets and temporary markets, there were functional forces blocking, stretching ropes, placing prohibition signs and mobile propaganda vehicles. A completely different scene than before, no more buyers stopping on the roadway, no more scenes of goods being sold on the sidewalk.

Similarly, from July 6, activities at spontaneous markets in Tam An Commune (Long Thanh District) are also tightened. In places where markets used to be held, where people gather to buy and sell things crowdedly, local authorities have set up barricades at both ends of the road to the market. Militia forces, Commune Public Security, and urban order are regularly on duty to ask people to limit their entry and exit. Many carts moved to an open space, a low-traffic area to trade, but a few minutes later the authorities were present to disperse.

No violations in the spontaneous market during the social distancing period

In order to strengthen measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic, Bien Hoa City requested that, from 3:00 p.m. on July 9, temporary and spontaneous markets in communes and wards should be temporarily closed; at the same time, the City People's Committee continues to direct the strengthening of inspection and strictly handle cases of trading that do not comply with regulations on epidemic prevention and control and other relevant regulations.

Ms. Duong Kim Truc, Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Trang Dai Ward, said that Trang Dai is a locality with a large population, and workers coming from other provinces have come and lived in Trang Dai a lot. However, for many years, the ward government has not had a traditional market but has 6 spontaneous markets, making it difficult for the management and control of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Over the past time, the local government has strengthened propaganda and mobilizing people when buying and selling goods at markets to take measures to prevent epidemics. Every day, the functional forces of the ward organize 2 inspection visits, violators will be handled according to regulations. In addition, the ward has also actively reviewed and counted more than 1,000 small traders and traders at markets to organize information retrieval when necessary as well as take large-scale screening samples to proactively in epidemic prevention and control. "This is the "key" for the authorities to know the information and address so that when a case related to the Covid-19 case appears, the tracing will take place quickly and smoothly" - Ms. Truc emphasized.

 Meanwhile, Long Binh Ward is also home to a spontaneous market situation, a complicated temporary market for a long time. For many years, the spontaneous markets in Quartier No. 6, Quartier No.8, market 45, etc. often happened with the trade encroaching on the traffic safety corridor, especially at the time when workers go to work in the morning and go home every afternoon. Many people even sit right under the roadside to trade, causing congestion, disorder and traffic safety.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Vuong, Chairman of the Long Binh People's Committee said that the Ward People's Committee many times coordinated with the Urban Order Management Team of Bien Hoa City and the Ward Public Security to patrol at those markets around Industrial Zones and areas concentred with the crowded laborers. From the beginning of the year, the People's Committee of Long Binh Ward has handled more than 1,000 cases of trolleys, tricycles, shops encroaching on the roadside for trading; At the same time, 2 temporary markets that did not operate in accordance with regulations were cleared.

According to Mr. Vuong, during the implementation process, some households did not comply, the functional forces resolutely made a record of administrative sanctions. Although the situation of crowded gatherings for market meetings has decreased, there are still 5 spontaneous markets in the area. Therefore, implementing the regulations of the People's Committee of Bien Hoa City on suspending the operation of spontaneous markets and temporary markets, the local government will strengthen the inspection force, rectify and handle violations; resolutely not to allow the situation of buying and selling, gathering in large numbers for market meetings in prohibited areas. “In order to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic, all spontaneous markets in the area of ​​Long Binh Ward are temporarily suspended from operation, barricaded, and completely cleared. This is also a measure to return the clear roadside to open traffic for people to participate in traffic smoothly and safely," said Mr. Vuong.

 Le Binh