Hanoians exercise in wee hours amid Covid restrictions

By Ngoc Thanh, Vo Hai July 20, 2021 | 03:59 pm PT

Public spaces in Hanoi were packed at night and early morning with people working out, after the capital tightened Covid-19 restrictions on Monday.

At midnight on July 20, a man works out in Indira Gandhi Park on Lang Ha’s Street.

At midnight on July 20, 2021, a man exercises at the Indira Gandhi Park on Lang Ha Street.

2 km away, on Ho Dac Di Street, a topless man exercises on a public park.

Two km away, on Ho Dac Di Street, a man exercises in a public park.

After 3 a.m., residents in the Old Quarter start leaving their houses for morning exercises.

After 3 a.m., people in the old quarter start leaving home for their morning exercises.

The pavements of Hoan Kiem Lake, cordoned off amid the rising number of Covid-19 infections, are seen with some early birds working out.

The pavements around Hoan Kiem Lake are cordoned off but some early birds use them nevertheless to stretch.

Many of them pull their masks down to their chins and talk while walking.

Many pull their masks down to their chins to talk while walking.

An employee of the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake tells people to stay away from the cordoned off area.

An employee of the Hoan Kiem Lake management board tells people to stay away from the cordoned off area.

Hundreds of people bike and walk around Hoan Kiem Lake at 4 a.m.

At the same time, groups of cyclers are seen on Thanh Nien Street, by the West Lake.The Hanoi People’s Committee asked citizens to stay home, avoid public gatherings of over five and maintain a distance of at least two meters between people starting Monday. The administration recommended that people only go outside when it was really necessary, for emergencies, buying food or medicines, working in factories and businesses allowed to operate. Since April 29, it has recorded 467 Covid cases, 41 of them were logged on July 19, which is the highest in daily new cases in the current outbreak.

There are also groups of cyclists and joggers on Thanh Nien Street by the West Lake.
The city people’s committee has told people to stay home, avoid public gatherings of over five and maintain a distance of at least two meters between each other starting Monday. The administration recommended that people should only go outside when really necessary like for emergencies, buying food or medicines or working in factories and businesses allowed to remain open.
Since April 27, the capital has had 721 Covid cases, including 46 on July 20, 2021, the highest single-day incidence in the current outbreak.