Committee proposes extending social distancing in Hanoi for one more week

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City authorities, however, can look at the reality in relaxing preventive measures set out in the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 16 and decide on the resumption of non-essential services and the street economy while assertively taking preventive measures.

Proposals are to be submitted to the Prime Minister, the committee heard at a meeting on April 22. 

A girl crossing a poster on COVID-19 prevention and control (Photo: VNA)

After discussions with experts and localities, the committee agreed that Hanoi would remain in the high-risk group. HCM City and the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Ha Giang are medium risk localities while all other cities and provinces are low risk. 

Though HCM City reported its latest COVID-19 case 25 days ago, because of its dense population and other risk factors, it remains in the medium-risk group, which require thorough mechanisms in containing the disease.

Meanwhile, Bac Ninh and Ha Giang had their latest cases on April 11 and April 16 respectively, yet passing the 14-day period as regulated.

It also proposed the PM order border localities and those with major industrial parks to pay more attention to preventive measures. 

All localities are to give more focus to vulnerable groups such as workers in informal sectors and students and step up coronavirus testing for people with flu-like symptoms.

At a Cabinet meeting on April 15, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed with a proposal from the committee on classifying the risks in different localities.

Twelve cities and provinces were deemed to be facing a high risk of infection, with 15 facing a medium risk and the 36 remaining facing a low risk.