All crowded events and entertainment activities taking place on pedestrian streets in the centre of Hanoi have been halted in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Pedestrian streets in Hanoi attract thousands of people on weekends 

The decision was made by the Hanoi administration after the SARS-CoV-2 virus recurred in Vietnam and has spread to nine localities in the country, including the capital city.

Hanoi has confirmed two positive cases since the second wave of the epidemic broke out in Da Nang city, a famous tourist attraction in central Vietnam, on July 25. The recurrence of the virus is putting the capital at risk, as tens of thousands of holidaymakers have returned from Da Nang.

The municipal administration asked Hoan Kiem district that houses pedestrian streets to remind local residents of the city’s decision to temporarily suspend large gatherings and recreational activities on these streets, as well as of the necessity to keep a distance from others.

The Municipal Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control requested that the administrations of various districts, wards, and communes continue to track down those returning from epidemic areas, conduct extensive testing and quarantine suspected cases.

The Hanoi Center for Disease Control, a body under the direct control of the municipal Health Department, is committed to providing a sufficient supply of quick test kits for districts throughout the capital.