Hundreds of people are seen queuing to file health declarations at the Cai Chanh coronavirus checkpoint in Dak Nong Province’s Dak RLap District - PHOTO: TNO

HCMC - Tens of thousands of people from Dong Nai, Binh Duong and HCMC have been rushing home in the Central Highlands region over the past three days, Dao Kim Nghiep, deputy director of the Dak RLap District Healthcare Center, said today, July 18.

The Cai Chanh coronavirus checkpoint in Dak Nong Province’s Dak RLap District has seen a sudden spike in people traveling in their private vehicles and file health declarations to pass through it.

On July 16, more than 6,700 people crossed the checkpoint to travel to the Central Highlands provinces. Meanwhile, the total number of people flocking to the region was up to 10,000 on July 17.

Due to the huge crowds of people, the province has dispatched officers to the checkpoint, Tuoi Tre Online reported. Only those who produce proof of negative Covid test result are allowed to pass.

This morning, police officers, soldiers and medical workers were tasked with giving guidelines and regulating traffic but the checkpoint was still crowded with people waiting to pass.

Dang Van Gin, a worker of a company in HCMC’s outlying district of Cu Chi, said that he was returning home in Daklak Province as food prices are soaring in the city while his company's monthly allowance is a mere VND2 million, much lower than his salary.