The Hanoi Party Committee has decided not to hold firework displays in 30 places citywide as planned previously.

There are only high altitude fireworks on New Year's Eve at a single location in Hanoi city for 2021 Tet celebration. Photo: Thuy Duong.

The city will hold only high altitude fireworks on New Year's Eve at a single location without crowd and broadcast them live on television.

Hanoi City Party Committee stated that in the last days of January 2021 up to now, the COVID-19 pandemic in the city has turned more complicated. The new variant of the virus is more contagious and has a shorter incubation period, and as a result, from only two outbreaks in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces, the pandemic has spread to a number of other provinces and cities, including Hanoi city.

The 21 new infections, which are related to the outbreaks in Quang Ninh and Hai Duong, have an extensive travel history and direct contacts with numerous people, so the risk of infection is very high. The third pandemic wave is predicted to prolong.

Facing this situation, the Standing Committee of Hanoi City Party Committee had activated the city’s entire system of pandemic prevention and control.

Earlier, Hanoi authorities decided to shut down all bars, karaoke parlors, discotheques, game and internet service outlets and local residents have been told to avoid non-essential gatherings from February 1. Over two million students from kindergartens to high school will stay at home and attend classes online since February 1.

The City Party Committee also requested relevant agencies and local authorities within the city to actively adopt the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control works considering them as an important and urgent task in the period before, during and after the Vietnamese traditional Lunar New Year of the Buffalo.

In addition, online commerce and non-cash payments are encouraged to ensure a safe circulation of goods  and to prevent price hike due to shortages.