Da Nang to reopen beaches with Covid-19 wave contained

Da Nang, Vietnam’s Covid-19 hotspot, has gone 13 days without new domestic infections while nearly 72,000 people representing local families tested negative for the novel coronavirus, the city's Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Fighting said Wednesday.

However, "non-essential" services like karaoke parlors, bars, dance clubs, internet shops and sports-related services including gyms will remain closed.

City authorities also planned to allow students from sixth to 12th grades to return to school from Monday while those from kindergarten to primary grades remain at home and learn online for another week. Vietnam welcomed nearly 23 million students from kindergarten through to high school for the 2020-2021 school year last Saturday.

Da Nang eased social distancing measures from September 5 but still closes public beaches and only allows restaurants and catering services to serve takeaways.

The popular tourism hub has a coastline of 30 km and is home to many of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches like My Khe, Non Nuoc, and Nam O. Since July 28, it banned residents from swimming to curb the spread of domestic infections.

The transport ministry allowed the resumption of public transport services to and from the city from Monday. Many localities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, continue to screen arrivals from Da Nang.

Vietnam has recorded 1,059 Covid-19 cases, 131 still active. A total 35 have succumbed to the disease, many being elderly patients suffering underlying conditions like diabetes or kidney failure.

The country has recorded no new local transmissions for a week.