Hanoi (VNA) – The capital city of Hanoi will apply strict socialdistancing measures from 6am on July 24 to prevent further spread ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest dispatch issued by themunicipal People’s Committee July 23 evening.

The measures to stamp outworsening outbreaks of COVID-19 will be in place for 15 days and followthe Prime Minister's Directive 16. At present, 19 southern provinces andcities, including the southern largest hub of Ho Chi Minh City are implementingsocial distancing measures under Directive 16.

Under the new measures,all public transport services including buses, taxis, contract vehiclesand coaches are banned, excluding those in service of pandemicprevention and control and transporting workers and experts. Motorbikesare also suspended from transporting passengers.

Peoplein the city are asked to stay at home and only go outside in necessary caseslike business trips, working at essential businesses (State agencies,factories, essential shops and service providers), buy food and medicines,or emergencies such as medical issues, fires or natural disasters.

Masksare mandatory in public places. People must maintain a distance of two metresin public places, and must not congregate in groups larger than two outside ofhospital, workplaces, or schools.

Peopleare required to submit health declaration forms via website www.tokhaiyte.vn orNcovi and Bluezone apps. Those who have symptoms such as fever, coughing ordifficulty breathing must contact local medical establishments for furtherinstructions.

Non-essentialservices and businesses must close.

Thebusinesses and services that are still allowed to operateinclude factories, production facilities, transport projects, constructionsites, essential businesses or suppliers (food, medicines, utility, gas andoil, etc.), educational institutions, banks and treasuries along withbank-related and business support activities (such as notaries andattorney offices, registration offices, etc.), securities, post offices,import and export activities, medical examination and treatment, and funeralservices.

Deliveryservices such as Grab will continue to operate as normal but will not beallowed to transport passengers.

Peopleare asked to hold off from organising weddings, while funeralservices must not have more than 20 attendants and will face monitoring by thelocal health authorities.

Allunnecessary meetings are banned.

Productionbusinesses, service establishments, and industrial zones must strictly observeCOVID-19 prevention and control measures.

Forthe agencies and offices of Hanoi and the central Government based in Hanoi,companies, enterprises and corporations (including foreign-invested companies)must develop arrangements to ensure their staff work online and only go tothe offices in case of necessity.

Malls,supermarkets, traditional markets and wholesale markets in the city are toensure adequate supply of daily necessities for the local population, arrangestalls and reception procedures (from parking to entry) to reduce the number ofcustomers in the same place at the same time, minimise close contacts andencourage online shopping and delivery.

Themunicipal authorities requested the State agencies and businesses to work outplans that can ensure smooth, undisrupted transportation of goods andproduction materials.

Industrialparks or production plants with workers residing in Hanoi or going to Hanoifrom other provinces and cities must register with local authorities (detailson the number of workers and experts, their places of residence oraccommodation, vehicles transporting them, etc.) and perform regular COVID-19screening as per health authorities’ guidelines.

Thedispatch said in response to the complex developments of the COVID-19pandemic in Hanoi and other localities and Hanoi has kept recording newcommunity transmission cases without clear sources of infection, thus posinghuge risks of community transmission without strict prevention and controlmeasures, the municipal authorities issued the new measures to ensure healthand safety for people.

Hanoihas recorded 666 infections during the fourth wave of infections since late April./.