Ho Chi Minh City Could Lift Lockdown, End 'Zero COVID-19' Policy

HANOI - Vietnam's coronavirus epicenter Ho Chi Minh City, which has kept residents confined at home under lockdown, is considering reopening economic activity from September 15, shifting from a "zero COVID-19" strategy to a policy of living with the virus. 

The city of 9 million people is targeting a phased reopening and the full vaccination of its citizens by the end of this year, according to the draft seen by Reuters, which has yet to be endorsed.  Ho Chi Minh City last month deployed troops to enforce its lockdown and prohibited residents from leaving their homes to slow a spiraling rate of deaths. Just 3% of Vietnam's 98 million population has been fully vaccinated.  Vietnam's biggest city, a business hub flanked by industrialized provinces, aims to "promote economic recovery ... and move towards living with COVID-19," the draft proposal said.