Hanoi relaxing restrictions, not lowering guard against COVID-19: Chairman

Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi will ease restrictions and gradually restore socio-economic activities while striving to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has said.

In a directive issued on April 28, Chung asked departments and agencies in the capital to maintain the spirit of “fighting the pandemic as if fighting an enemy” and called for the involvement of the entire political system and all people in the fight.

Hanoi will maintain the principles of prevention, detection, quarantine, sealing off epidemic clusters, treatment, and minimising fatalities, he said, stressing that it will remain vigilant against the outbreak.

Festivals, tournaments and events that are unnecessary or attract large crowds to public places, along with non-essential services such as entertainment, hairdressing salons, bars, and cinemas will remain closed, the official said.

Factories, production facilities, construction sites, and transportation companies can operate as normal but must take preventive measures, he directed.

He also urged students maintain a safe distance between each other and that schools adopt staggered meal times and activities, sanitise classrooms, and take other preventive measures when students return to school early next month.  

Shopping malls and supermarkets are allowed to open after 9am.

Me Linh and Thuong Tin districts, which are still included in the high-risk group, need to continue following instructions until risk levels are adjusted, he said./.