Covid-19 hotspot fines nine for breaking social distancing rules

By Hong Phuong   June 10, 2021 | 03:49 pm PT
Covid-19 hotspot fines nine for breaking social distancing rules
People in Bac Giang Province make health declarations at a Covid-19 checkpoint, May 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.
Bac Giang, the epicenter of Vietnam's ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, has fined nine people VND15 million ($654.52) each for ignoring the social distancing order in force.

On May 21, the nine people gathered to attend a death anniversary function in Tien Phong Commune. Among the attendees was a worker of Samkwang Company at Quang Chau industrial park, a coronavirus hotspot in the province. He was supposed to have self-isolated himself at home, but chose to ignore pandemic prevention measures to attend the party.

The worker hast later tested positive for the novel coronavirus and the remaining eight who’d come into contact with him have been sent to centralized quarantine facilities, Bui Quang Huy, chairman of Yen Dung District where the people live, said Thursday.

"Those in close contact with the patient show negative results for Covid-19 now. In case they contract the virus, local authorities would launch a criminal investigation for spreading the disease," Huy said.

Tran Van Hoc, chairman of Tien Phong Commune, was suspended for 15 days from June for neglecting the pandemic fight and letting local residents gather to attend the crowded party despite complicated developments of the pandemic in the province.

Yen Dung District has been placed under social distancing campaign under the government's Directive 16, which bans gatherings of more than two people in public and asks people to only leave home for emergencies, buying food and medicine, and working in factories, production facilities and businesses that involve "essential" goods and services.

Bac Giang, home to major industrial parks and foreign tech giants, has recorded 3,719 infections in the new wave that started April 27, mostly industrial park workers.

 
 
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