DANANG – After over a month under lockdown, the central city of Danang is planning on easing social distancing in a phased manner from September 5, 2020, if no new Covid-19 cases are found among the community following the testing of 60,000 households.
Travel companies and hotels can serve guests again with a limit of fewer than 50% of their capacity, while restaurants, eateries, processed food shops and others can remain open for takeaways and deliveries only.
This is part of the draft discussed at a meeting of the Danang Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control that took place on August 31, wherein attendees discussed how to ensure both the fight against the virus as well as socio-economic development through the easing of social distancing.
Accordingly, the plan will be unveiled in a step by step manner—people have been asked not to step out unless necessary; to wear face masks while going out, speaking with others and going to workplaces; to wash their hands with soap or disinfectant and maintain a safe distance of at least one meter from each other.
Wholesale and retail activities of goods, machinery and equipment, construction materials, stationery, garment products and other services such as haircuts, repair and maintenance at stores, shops, bookstores and photocopy shops are allowed to remain open.
Passenger transportation via taxis, Grab cars and bikes and buses can only operate within the inner city with no more than 50% of seats occupied during a single trip.
Activities such as playing sports, sightseeing or visiting monuments, museums and libraries can have not more than 20 people at the same time. Important events must be granted permission by the competent authorities.
Other activities that have been allowed to resume operations comprise mobile sales, selling of lottery tickets and delivering of goods to people while strictly complying with regulations.
Trade centers, supermarkets, markets and fishing ports are also required to take safety measures.
Meanwhile, some activities will continue to remain suspended such as crowded festivals, religious ceremonies, sports tournaments and others that gather more than 20 people in public places. Entertainment places, beauty salons, karaoke and massage parlors, bars, discos, cinemas, casinos, gyms, yoga and indoor sports activities will have to stay shut.
In the early stage of the new school year that begins on September 5, students will be taught online, until a further announcement is made.
In another development, Thua Thien Hue Province will allow entertainment places, beauty salons, karaoke and massage parlors, bars, discos, cinemas, casinos, gyms, yoga and indoor sports activities to operate as normal from September 3, 2020, it was announced after the meeting by the Thua Thien Hue Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.
If any of the places violate Covid-19 safety regulations, they will be forced to shut shop immediately.
By Nhan Tam
