As some bars and karaoke lounges in the Hanoi Old Quarter area were overcrowded over the past weekend, the Hoan Kiem district People's Committee has suspended their operations and stepped up measures to prevent Covid-19.

An overview of the meeting of the Hanoi Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19 on September 23. Photo: Kinh te & Do thi

At the meeting of the city's Steering Committee for the Covid-19 Prevention and Control on September 23, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Ngo Van Quy said that the city government has sanctioned several people for flouting outdoor masking regulation and closed some bars and karaoke rooms for their failure to ensure a safe distance between people.

Mr. Quy has requested to continue enforcing preventive measures, especially focusing on communication so as for people not to stay unguarded, and mask up in public places.

“Wearing face masks should be strictly observed because this is the most effective measure. Functional forces should continue to inspect and strictly handle violations”, Mr. Quy said.

Mr. Quy has asked the city’s relevant authorities to immediately inspect pandemic and fire prevention at bars and karaoke lounges in their jurisdiction.

In October, in the city many big activities will take place such as the 1010th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi and the city’s Party Congress. Hanoi’s authorities decided that the number of events to be celebrated should be trimmed off to 30 from 49.  Other events will still be held provided that they comply with safety measures.

The vice chairman of the city People’s Committee also asked for restriction of festivals, meetings, and celebrations. The celebration of such events must be authorized by the Department of Health to ensure full implementation of epidemic prevention measures.

As the city has gone 27 days without new locally-infected cases since August 19, since September 16, karaoke parlors, bars and discos in the city have been restored on the condition that these establishments comply with Covid-19 countermeasures.

Earlier, on August 1, the Hanoi city government requested all bars, pubs and karaoke parlors to close and customers at restaurants and supermarkets to keep a safe distance since the novel coronavirus resurfaced in Vietnam on July 25.