Hai Duong to embrace new normal following outbreak control

The move came as the northern province, around 60 kilometers east of Hanoi, has successfully contained its outbreaks, with many areas having recorded no community transmissions for the past 20 days.

All lockdowns across Hai Duong have been lifted.

From April 1, all students from kindergarten to high school levels will be allowed to resume class after more than a month staying at home as a precautionary measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Restaurants, food stalls and cafes are allowed to resume operations but must comply with anti-pandemic prevention measures.

However, non-essential services like bars, karaokes, dance clubs, massage parlors, movie theaters, game shops and gyms will remain closed until April 15.

As of Monday, all drivers, university students and those tested for Covid-19 as part of the province's mass screening campaign showed negative results.

A total 95 percent of businesses in Hai Duong, home to many industrial parks and foreign-invested firms, have resumed operation.

On March 3, Hai Duong ended a 15-day provincial social distancing period.

Later, 12 districts and towns in the province were divided into two groups, with different levels of restrictions applied to each.

Three districts Kinh Mon, Kim Thanh, Cam Giang and Hai Duong Town, major coronavirus hotspots, banned social events, gatherings of over 20 people in one place and gatherings of 10 people or more outside workplaces, schools and hospitals. A minimum distance of two meters between people in public had to be ensured.

The rest allowed businesses offering wholesale and retail services, lotteries, hotels, accommodation establishments, restaurants and food stalls to resume operation, but they must ensure anti-pandemic measures including provision of protective clothing for staff, body temperature checks and avoiding close contact.

Since March 18, all of Hai Duong, home to 1.7 million people, had employed social distancing in line with the latter group.

Counting from Jan. 28 when community transmissions reemerged in Vietnam after almost two months, Hai Duong has reported 726 Covid patients.