Hanoi fines 300 people $26,500 for breaking Covid protocols

The fines were applied over the weekend after the capital entered a two-week social distancing order starting Saturday amid rising coronavirus concerns, according to police.

The order, issued under Directive 16, requires residents to stay home and only go out for basic necessities such as buying food or medicines or to work at factories or businesses that are allowed to open.

People must stay at least two meters apart from each other. No more than two people can gather at public places apart from workplaces, schools or hospitals.

The people were fined for failing to wear face masks or keep distance in pubic, or going out for unnecessary reasons.

Five facilities were also fined VND75 million for continuing to operate despite a suspension on non-essential services during the social distancing period.

Chu Ngoc Anh, capital chairman, said Hanoi police have erected checkpoints on multiple streets to control traffic flow. Over 47,000 vehicles have been checked throughout the weekend, and more than 13,000 made to turn back.

Hanoi has recorded 903 Covid cases in the fourth wave that began in late April. Earlier too a number of infections were found in hospitals across the capital leading to their lockdown.

A new cluster at the city's Lung Hospital has seen at least 23 coronavirus cases, including staff members, patients and their family members, since Sunday. The hospital has since been locked down and stopped receiving patients.