Pandemic-hit localities asked to cancel festivals, mass gatherings
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has requested COVID-19-hit areas to cancel the organisation of festivals and cultural activities of mass gatherings in an effort to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
A rare deserted scene seen at a pagoda (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi(VNA) – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has requested COVID-19-hitareas to cancel the organisation of festivals and cultural activities of mass gatheringsin an effort to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
The ministryon January 29 sent an official dispatch to the People’s Committees of centrally-runprovinces and cities asking them to perform urgent COVID-19 prevention andcontrol measures.
Accordingly,the localities are recommended to make decisions on whether to cancel or stoplocal sport events based on their actual conditions. All sport-relatedfacilities must strictly follow regulations on pandemic prevention and control.
Inlocalities where COVID-19 infection cases in the community are detected,karaoke and disco parlors and cultural activities with mass gatherings must betemporarily shut down.
In provincesand cities without COVID-19 clusters, the scale and duration of festivals are shouldbe reduced, with their forms changed to suit the current situation and pandemicprevention regulations must be strictly implemented.
Meanwhile,festival organisers, management boards of cultural, historical, and scenicsites, as well as heads of museums, cinemas, and libraries, among others areresponsible for monitoring people’s compliance with regulations and stepping upsanitation and disinfection.
Theministry also asked for stronger prevention and control measures and strictfines imposed on violations of the regulations in the culture, sports andtourism sector./.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked for extra efforts to quickly stamp out new COVID-19 outbreaks before the lunar New Year festival, which falls in mid-February.
Vietnam reported 34 new COVID-19 community cases over the past 12 hours to 6:00 on January 30, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
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A rare deserted scene seen at a pagoda (Photo: VNA) 
