More localities close outdoor eateries for Covid-19 prevention

Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa provinces have temporarily banned outdoor eateries and other services as part of Covid-19 prevention activities.

Many shops in Hai Phong closed

Hai Phong authorities announced that cinemas and eateries would be banned from 8 pm on February 16 until further notice. Shopping centres are only allowed to open supermarkets and shops selling necessities.

Leaders of district people's committees were asked to intensify preventive measures and monitoring task as the outbreak in Hai Duong and adjacent provinces is still complicated. While Hai Duong Province is in a lockdown from February 16 to March 3, Hai Phong will stop receiving all residents and cargo from Hai Duong.

Residents in Hai Phong were advised to not travel to Hai Duong. They will need a certificate from their ward and communal people's committee to travel and will be required to pay for their quarantine upon return. Freight vehicles also need certificates to travel to Hai Duong. Passenger vehicles and freight vehicles that go to other provinces and cities must only use the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway and National Highway 10.

The Department of Transport has halted all training and driver-license issuing activities. Tighter monitoring will be applied at border villages with Hai Duong and industrial parks. Firms were asked to follow regulations while passenger vehicles are only allowed to operate at 50% of their capacity to ensure a safe distance.

Thanh Hoa provincial authorities also followed suit to ban outdoor eateries. Cafe bars and restaurants, especially those in busy areas like Lam Son Square and Truong Thi Street must only serve indoors and ensure safe distances between customers as well as other preventive regulations.

Thanh Hoa bans outdoor eating places

Cinemas can still open along with supermarkets and other services, however, they must take customers' body temperature, prepare handwash and face masks and disinfect the area at least once every two days. Accommodation facilities must follow the same rules and ask customers to fill in medical declaration forms.

Religious facilities and the public were asked to not hold or attend events, festivals and gatherings that have large crowds. People who are living in other provinces were asked to not go to Thanh Hoa during this time. Self-isolation cases will be monitored and stricter punishments will be applied for violators.