Workers Try to Flee Vietnam's Biggest City
2021-08-18
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1Thousands of jobless workers in Ho Chi Minh City are fleeing to their hometowns as the city extends coronavirus restrictions.
2Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest city and is now the center of the country's worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic.
3Many people are leaving town on motorbikes, with their belongings loaded high.
4But officials are trying to prevent them from leaving and possibly spreading the virus to other parts of the country.
5Hundreds of motorbikes have been stopped at roadblocks around the city since Sunday.
6Television video from areas outside of the city on Monday showed factory workers wearing full protective clothing.
7They were hurrying to get on trains and buses in a similar attempt to flee the most affected areas.
8Officials with loudspeakers ordered people to continue social distancing and return to their homes.
9The sound of danger signals and shouting was everywhere as people attempted to leave.
10Ho Chi Minh City has had most of the country's 6,141 coronavirus deaths, with more than 283,000 reported cases.
11The city of nine million people is seeing on average 241 deaths every day.
12Many people are struggling to survive after losing jobs because of coronavirus-related suspensions of factory work.
13The Vietnamese government has announced that it will give out financial aid to its citizens.
14Nguyen Van Hoan was traveling toward the central province of Ha Tinh, about 1,200 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City by road.
15"This is not my first attempt. I tried to leave the city weeks ago but was ordered to return to my place," he said.
16Hoan lost his job two months ago.
17On his motorbike, he had put a suitcase, a supply of instant foods, water and a container of gasoline.
18"Many people in my neighborhood have died," he told the Reuters news agency by phone.
19"If I stay, I'll die either from hunger and stress or from the virus," he said.
20Hoan added that he had not gotten any aid from the government.
21Healthcare centers and hospitals are now overcrowded, and hospitals have a shortage of workers.
22The government has ordered medical centers not to refuse patients.
23I'm Alice Bryant.
1Thousands of jobless workers in Ho Chi Minh City are fleeing to their hometowns as the city extends coronavirus restrictions. 2Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest city and is now the center of the country's worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic. Many people are leaving town on motorbikes, with their belongings loaded high. 3But officials are trying to prevent them from leaving and possibly spreading the virus to other parts of the country. Hundreds of motorbikes have been stopped at roadblocks around the city since Sunday. 4Television video from areas outside of the city on Monday showed factory workers wearing full protective clothing. They were hurrying to get on trains and buses in a similar attempt to flee the most affected areas. 5Officials with loudspeakers ordered people to continue social distancing and return to their homes. The sound of danger signals and shouting was everywhere as people attempted to leave. 6Ho Chi Minh City has had most of the country's 6,141 coronavirus deaths, with more than 283,000 reported cases. The city of nine million people is seeing on average 241 deaths every day. 7Many people are struggling to survive after losing jobs because of coronavirus-related suspensions of factory work. The Vietnamese government has announced that it will give out financial aid to its citizens. 8Nguyen Van Hoan was traveling toward the central province of Ha Tinh, about 1,200 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City by road. 9"This is not my first attempt. I tried to leave the city weeks ago but was ordered to return to my place," he said. 10Hoan lost his job two months ago. On his motorbike, he had put a suitcase, a supply of instant foods, water and a container of gasoline. 11"Many people in my neighborhood have died," he told the Reuters news agency by phone. "If I stay, I'll die either from hunger and stress or from the virus," he said. 12Hoan added that he had not gotten any aid from the government. 13Healthcare centers and hospitals are now overcrowded, and hospitals have a shortage of workers. The government has ordered medical centers not to refuse patients. 14I'm Alice Bryant. 15Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 16______________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18outbreak - n. a sudden start or increase in disease 19province - n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into 20suitcase - n. a large case that you use to carry your clothing and belongings when you are traveling 21stress - n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life