Ho Chi Minh City’s coronavirus alert level has been decreased from level two to one - meaning transmission of cases is less or reducing.

The city needs a sharp bounce back from the Covid-19 recession from the beginning of the year to return to its normal growth rate.

The Ministry of Health this evening, January 1 confirmed 14,835 fresh Covid cases, with 13 of them imported and 14,822 locally infected in 62 cities and provinces, dipping by 1,654 cases over yesterday.

The People's Committee in HCMC directed educational institutions to provide face-to-face teaching for students in grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 from January 4, 2022.

The auction of four land lots in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in HCMC’s Thu Duc City has many loopholes, which may negatively impact the local real estate sector and the economy, according to the HCMC Real Estate Association (HoREA).

HCMC has five suspected cases of the new omicron variant of coronavirus on December 31. The city’s healthcare sector, districts and Thu Duc City have to strengthen the supervision to identify Omicron cases quickly.

The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, at noon on December 25, announced the pandemic alert level in the area following Resolution No.128 of the Government.

On December 11, the Ministry of Public Security concluded the emulation movement called “People's Public Security Force – The shield against Covid-19 and sword for community security, order and safety”.

The People’s Committee of HCMC has approved a decision to extend a pilot program allowing food and drink facilities to operate until 10 p.m.

Deputy Head of the Forecasting Division of the Hydro-meteorological Station in the Southern Region Le Dinh Quyet informed that HCMC recorded the lowest temperature of 22oC in the early morning of December 4 since the beginning of the year.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic remains unpredictable, many businesses in the country’s pandemic hotspot HCM City have resumed full operations despite stringent prevention protocols and human resource shortages.

HCM City got the thumbs up from the expat community for the Urban Work Life Index. Up to 89 per cent were happy with life in general and 84 per cent were satisfied with the affordable cost of living.

HCM City Healthcare Department’s Chief Secretariat Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai said the increase in number of new Covid cases in recent days is not a sign of a new Covid-19 wave but the public should continue to take preventive health measures.

HCMC authorities are seeking 37.6 trillion VND (1.66 billion USD) to build affordable housing for workers over the next five years, of which State revenue will account for no more than 5 percent of the total investment.

The HCM City Department of Education and Training has proposed financial support for preschool teachers and students, with aid to be given first to preschools located near industrial parks and export processing zones where many workers live.

After the fourth Covid-19 pandemic, more than 1.3 million workers have returned to work in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nearly one month after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions and implementing pandemic prevention and control measures under the Prime Minister’s Directives 15 and 16, some cultural, art and sport activities have been resumed in HCMC.

Ho Chi Minh City Police Department, on November 5, held a ceremony to launch the second chapter of the issuance of chip-based ID cards for people in the area.

The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations in HCM City has increased slightly over the past two weeks, with most hospitalised patients having mild symptoms, according to a survey conducted by the city’s Department of Health.

COVID-19 patients in HCM City who do not meet the criteria for home quarantine will be allowed to stay at a designated quarantine facility in their local area or at their company,