Hanoi tightens Covid-19 restrictions, bans public gatherings over five people

05:45 19/07/2021 - Social news

The Hanoi People’s Committee Sunday asked citizens to stay home, avoid public gatherings of over five and maintain a distance of at least two meters between people starting Monday.The latest restrictions followed the capital city recording 37 new Covid-19 cases Sunday.

A part of Hanoi's Hang Mam Street was locked down after a Covid-19 case was detected on July 18, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

The latest restrictions followed the capital city recording 37 new Covid-19 cases Sunday.

The administration recommended that people only go outside when it was really necessary, for emergencies, buying food or medicines, working in factories and businesses allowed to operate.

Weddings will have to postponed. Funerals cannot have more than 30 people and will be supervised strictly by health officials. People leaving the city or returning to it must make health declarations and sign a commitment to follow Covid-19 prevention guidelines with the authorities.

All non-essential services will be temporarily closed. Restaurants can only sell takeaways.

Businesses and services that are allowed to stay open include factories, manufacturers, traffic works, construction sites, essential services such as food, pharmaceuticals, electricity, water, fuel, gasoline. Medical declaration by QRCode is required for all of them.

Offices and agencies have to make plans to have employees to work 50 percent from home. Trade centers, supermarkets, traditional markets and wholesale markets in the locality shall sell only essential items. Online shopping and delivery are encouraged.

Transporting goods from other localities to Hanoi will require medical declarations. The driver and co-driver must test negative for Covid-19 not more than three days prior to travel.

Vehicles from other localities can go through Hanoi to other places, but cannot pick up or drop anyone off in the city.

The capital also requires a reduction of 50 percent in operating capacity and occupation of seats in public buses, except in special cases like vehicles carrying experts, workers, quarantined people, goods and production materials. The use of personal vehicles is also restricted.

Since the new wave began in late April, Hanoi has recorded 427 Covid-19 cases, 167 of them after July 5.

Vo Hai

19/07/2021