5 more Hanoi districts suspend on-site dining

Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hoang Mai, Nam Tu Liem and Tay Ho District will only allow eateries to serve takeaways and limit large gatherings from Sunday noon, actions that have been taken by Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung Districts earlier this month.

The capital on Saturday classified six districts, Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hoang Mai, Long Bien, Nam Tu Liem and Tay Ho, as having high coronavirus risks. Including Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung, eight out of 12 Hanoi districts are now classified as having high coronavirus risks.

Yet Long Bien has not announced restrictions regarding its new risk status.

Per existing Covid-19 prevention protocols, places deemed as having high coronavirus risks will need to suspend certain non-essential activities like on-site dining, cultural, sporting and entertainment activities. Food and beverage establishments must also be closed before 9 p.m., and wet markets be suspended.

High-schools in the districts that have opened for 12th graders earlier will be closed and students will return to online classes.

Residents are recommended not to leave home unless for necessary reasons.

Tay Ho District will also close its walking streets.

On a whole, Hanoi still classifies as having a medium coronavirus risk. Throughout the entire city, only Phuc Tho District remains at low risk.

Hanoi has recorded the highest number of daily new Covid-19 infections, typically around 1,500 cases. Around 98 percent of its adult population have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose.