HCMC proposes 10 Covid safety criteria for spa, massage parlors

[ASEAN NOW News]

A massage parlor on Bui Vien Street in HCMC's District 1 prepares to close following the city's order to prevent Covid-19 infection, March 14, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

 

The HCMC Health Department has proposed a set of ten safety criteria including vaccination and social distancing for spas and massage parlors.

 

The establishments must satisfy ten safety criteria to be allowed to open in the "new normal" period.

 

According to VN Express, requirements include mandatory medical declaration for both customers and employees.

 

Employees must either have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot or recovered from the disease, change masks and wash hands frequently.

 

Customers must either have been vaccinated with at least one vaccine shot, have a Covid-19 recovery certificate, or have tested negative for the coronavirus within 72 hours of entering an establishment. They must also maintain a distance of one meter from each other.

 

Both customers and employees must have their body temperatures checked before entering a spa or massage parlor. The establishments must have sufficient soap, hand sanitizers, and ensure regular disinfection of furniture and equipment.

 

Spas and massage parlors may operate at full capacity in areas with low coronavirus risks, and with reduced capacity in areas with higher risks.

 

The city had allowed spas, massage parlors, bars, and dance clubs to reopen on November 11, but shut them down two days later after the Covid-19 situation worsened.

 

All these establishments and other non-essential services in the city have been suspended for over six months.