Hanoi to close all non esential services today

[ASEAN NOW News]

Barbers work on Hanoi street

 

The chairman of the municipal People’s Committee has said that Hanoi will now close down all non-essential services, including in-door activities at restaurants, cafes, barbershops starting from Tuesday July 13.

 

Takeaways are still allowed, said Chu Ngoc Anh, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, on Monday.

Physical exercise, large gatherings at public places such as parks and gardens flower beds will also be suspended, he added. Violators will face hefty punishments.

 

All returnees to Hanoi from HCMC and other pandemic-hit localities must make health declarations and undergo the mandatory 14-day self-isolation at home.

 

They must have papers proving they tested negative for the coronavirus at most three days before entry.

Those displaying Covid symptoms, such as fever, coughing, sore through, breathing difficulty, or loss of taste, must notify the nearest medical facility for timely responses.

 

City police are also increasing more checking points at major gateways, crossings, shortcuts, inland waterways, inter-provincial bus stations, to keep track of all commuters.

 

Functional forces will check and screen all people entering Hanoi from other cities and provinces.

 

Some Business Neglect Covid Measures

 

According to the city authorities, some citizens and businesses have been neglecting coronavirus preventive measures. Physical exercise, large gatherings in the open, food and beverage establishments, which are against regulations, still scatter the city.

 

Barbershops and dining places have been re-opening since June 22 following days of no local infections reported. The city required restaurants to ensure social distancing between customers and have dividers between seats.

 

Establishments could not fill more than 50% of their seating capacity and had to less than 20 people in a venue at a time. They also had to close before 9 p.m. every day. Bar, pubs, and draught beer venues were only allowed to sell takeaways.

 

As more new infections are documented in the city, these establishments will, again, come to a halt.

 

Hanoi imposes mass Transport suspensions

 

Hanoi has recorded over 6,300 people going back from HCMC since June 23. Screening of the returnees in the past two days detected 18 Covid-19 patients. Its tally in the fourth wave has reached 530.

 

City leaders have earlier imposed a suspension of mass transport (all buses, taxis, contract, tourist, and fixed-route buses) from Hanoi to 14 cities and provinces and vice versa starting July 8. The latest move is to address the rising coronavirus concerns as new infections are emerging in the capital.

 

The 14 localities on the ban list are Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Dak Lak, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Thua Thien - Hue, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Ha Nam.

 

Bus routes still allowed to operate must follow preventive measures, including the strict control of passengers at checking points.

 

“This is an important time. There’s no room for negligence,” said Chu Xuan Dung, deputy chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee last week.