Da Nang residents are reluctant to go shopping at wet markets during the peak season for Tet products amid the complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, strict health measures are being put in place at these venues to ensure the safety of market stallholders and patrons to help shoppers feel secure and safe in a bid to increase shopper numbers.   

The Management Board of the Phuoc My Market in Son Tra District has introduced proper precautions to control the spread of the virus in efforts to ensure the safety of market stallholders and shoppers. Photo: QUYNH TRANG

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen has directed the municipal Department of Industry and Trade sector to take even more drastic measures to ensure safe wet market operations amid the COVID-19 crisis in an attempt to meet growing demand for Tet goods.

Some markets have been partly or fully closed for a few days after positive cases were confirmed in some market stallholders in order to allow time to carry out Coronavirus deep clean and test the remainder operating in these venues. As a result, wet markets have witnessed a sharp decline in shopper numbers.

The Da Nang Wet Market Development and Management Company is asking management boards of wet markets to encourage market stallholders and workers operating in these venues to take regular tests in order to help the health agency find positive cases in people who have no symptoms, but who are still infectious as well as pay for their tests.

Self-testing is recommended for market stallholders if they have symptoms or had a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 regardless of their vaccination status. They should consider self-testing to screen for COVID-19 immediately before an activity to see if they are positive for COVID-19. With regular self-testing they can slow the spread and help protect the most vulnerable in their families and communities.

About 300 to 350 tons of agricultural products have been transported daily to the Hoa Cuong Wholesale Market for sale in recent days. Da Nang distributors have increased stockpiling of essential goods to ensure sufficient supply for local residents during the upcoming Tet Festival, resulting in an abundance of supplies to meet growing demand for Tet goods from local citizens.

Mrs Le Thi Kim Phuong, the Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade remarked that it is very important for traditional markets to ensure continuity of operations in an effort to meet strong demand for Tet goods.

She stated that estimated value of the goods stored by market stallholders across Da Nang is around VND 500 billion. Regular COVID-19 testing for market stallholders is very important for the health agency to early detect cases, and the city’s ultimate goal is to narrow down very high-risk and high-risk zones, ensuring smooth operation of traditional market operates smoothly.

The municipal Department of Industry and Trade has confirmed that the municipal government has absolutely no plan to place Da Nang under lockdown, and close traditional markets in order to ensure continuity of their operations amid COVID-19.

Attention is given to closing only market stalls where cases and COVID-19 contacts are detected. In addition, heed is paid on timely isolating confirmed cases and their close contacts in order to curb the spread of the virus while ensuring smooth operation of wet markets.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG – Translating by H.L