The Hanoi city government continues to keep bars, karaoke lounges, massage parlors, games, theaters, cinemas, and spa (except for hair salons) closed to curb the coronavirus pandemic in the new “normal”. 

Hanoi’s mayor Nguyen Duc Chung addresses the meeting on April 28. Photo: Thanh Nien newspaper

Hanoi’s mayor Nguyen Duc Chung on April 28 issued Directive 07 on the continuation of Covid-19 preventive measures, under which festivals, sports events, social gatherings, except at workplaces, remain banned. Factory activities are maintained at facilities but strict hygienic measures must be taken. 

According to the new directive, business services, shopping centers and supermarkets in urban districts, new urban areas and towns in Hanoi (except for eateries, drug stores, filling stations and wet markets) are allowed to open only from 9:00 a.m. to reduce contact and traffic density in highly populous areas. All business activities on sidewalks are also prohibited.

Eateries and coffee shops are requested to arrange a minimum distance of two meters between customers or one meter with a screen between customers, and sell take-away products. 

Local authorities in the city need to advise people against leaving home out of necessity and take safety measures.

Hanoi has two high-risk districts of Me Linh and Thuong Tin, which continue to undergo social distancing as stipulated in the Prime Minister’s Directive 16. 

On April 24, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued Directive 19 on implementing further preventative measures to contain and mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic. The prime minister asked ministries, local governments to be on alert under the motto of “fighting the pandemic as if fighting the enemy”.