Medical workers are at a quarantine area on Hà Nội's Quán Sư Street. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — In addition to the Hà Nội districts of Đống Đa and Hai Bà Trưng, the city's three inner districts of Ba Đình, Hoàn Kiếm and Tây Hồ have to halt in-person dining and some non-essential services from Sunday after the city announced a new pandemic level assessment early Saturday.

According to the municipal People’s Committee, the capital is now medium risk – labelled yellow - but the eight districts of Đống Đa, Hai Bà Trưng, Ba Đình, Hoàn Kiếm, Hoàng Mai, Long Biên, Nam Từ Liêm and Tây Hồ are labelled orange, with a high risk of COVID-19 infections.

The two districts of Đống Đa and Hai Bà Trưng turned from yellow to orange last week, while the six other districts have changed colour due to the complex pandemic development and new case rises this week. 

Out of districts and towns across the capital, only Phúc Thọ District is at level one  - low risk (green) - while 21 others are at level two – medium risk (yellow). No areas in the city are at level four – very-high-risk (red).

The assessment of the pandemic level of Hà Nội is based on two criteria: the number of new infections and the vaccination rate.

Currently, the rate of people aged 18 and over receiving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the city is 98.2 per cent.

The rate of people aged 50 and over receiving full vaccination with two doses of vaccine is 95.1 per cent.

As soon as the Hà Nội People's Committee issued the pandemic level assessment on Saturday afternoon, the People's Committees of Tây Hồ and Hoàn Kiếm District decided to ban in-person dining, in-person study and some non-essential activities from Sunday, while Ba Đình will tighten disease prevention and control from Monday.

Accordingly, from December 26, 2021, the two districts of Hoàn Kiếm and Tây Hồ will not allow meetings and events with more than 20 people in one room, and no gathering of 10 or more people outside of offices, schools or hospitals.

Those participating in such meetings/events must show certificates proving they are fully vaccinated, recovered from COVID-19 and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours, as well as strictly follow 5k rules.

Religious ceremonies and activities gathering 20 people or more will be halted at religious establishments.

All cultural, sports and recreational activities in public places were stopped too.

Restaurants and food and beverage service establishments are only allowed to provide take-away services and must close before 9pm every day.

Streetside markets and temporary markets have to close. Accommodation establishments are allowed to operate at no more than half capacity.

The districts will also temporarily suspend operations for non-essential business and service establishments with high risk of infection, including beauty salons (except for hairdressing), amusement parks, bars, karaoke, games, massage parlours and walking streets.

High schools, vocational schools and education centres must temporarily suspend in-person teaching, switching to online teaching until further notice.

On Saturday, Hà Nội reported 1,879 new COVID-19 infections, a record high since the start of the pandemic, and marking the seventh straight day the city’s daily caseload led all other localities in Việt Nam.

In the last seven days, the city reported an average of nearly 1,700 new infections daily.

On Saturday, Hà Nội recorded five more deaths from coronavirus, bringing total COVID-19 related deaths in the city to 95.

The cumulative number of cases in Hà Nội during the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic starting from April 29, 2021, is 37,522 cases. — VNS