Hanoi to allow construction, retain entry checkpoints after Tuesday

Duong Duc Tuan, deputy chairman of Hanoi People's Committee, said the capital is expected to let construction sites resume operations after Sept. 21. Work is still not allowed in areas with Covid-19 outbreaks and must be suspended if coronavirus cases are found, Tuan added.

"Experience has shown relaxing restrictions still have to go hand-in-hand with tight monitoring. As such, the city would retain 23 Covid-19 entry checkpoints," said Tuan.

Hanoi would continue to vaccinate its adult population with their second shots in October and November, once there's enough supply, he added.

The capital has recorded 4,157 local Covid-19 cases since the fourth coronavirus wave hit Vietnam in late April. It has undergone a series of social distancing orders, with the latest expected to end after Tuesday.

As Vietnam begins to shift its coronavirus strategy to one where it seeks to adapt to the virus's persistent existence, Hanoi had recently scrapped the requirements for travel papers in 19 districts deemed low-risk. The city would also gradually remove its Covid-19 checkpoints, leaving only those in downtown areas and high-risk locations, among others.

The 19 low-risk districts, without new community transmission cases since Sept. 6, have also been allowed to reopen food and beverage establishments, repair shops and other businesses since last Thursday. However, only takeaway orders are allowed while service must complete before 9 p.m. daily.

So far, Hanoi has vaccinated around 5.7 million people with at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot. Around 709,000 people have been fully immunized.