Police officer tells a food seller in Nguyễn Du Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District about COVID-19 prevention and control measures directed by the district People's Committee. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — As of Saturday, 23 districts and towns in Hà Nội have been classed as yellow COVID risk areas (medium risk), while seven have been labelled orange (high risk).

Hà Nội now has no districts or towns that are green zones where daily activities can go on as normal, and no red zones where the risk of COVID-19 infection is very high.

The seven districts of Cầu Giấy, Nam Từ Liêm, Thanh Xuân, Ba Đình, Gia Lâm, Hoàng Mai and Long Biên are labelled orange.

Hoàn Kiếm District from Sunday has been downgraded to yellow as COVID development in the area was assessed as less serious.

At the commune and ward level, Hà Nội now has 54 green zones, 367 communes and wards in the yellow zone and 158 communes and wards in the orange zone.

On Friday, the city confirmed over 3,000 cases, a record high. Gia Lâm District is the area with the most infections.

The city has recorded 55,113 COVID-19 cases, including 44,625 people being isolated and treated at home. The others are being treated at health facilities and hospitals.

In the past two weeks, Hà Nội has recorded 21,890 infections in the community.

Since April 29, 2021, the city has recorded 307 deaths related to COVID-19.

More than 13.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the city including more than 1.46 million additional and booster injections.

The percentage of people aged 18 and over receiving at least one dose of COVID vaccine is 99 per cent.

More than 97 per cent of people aged 50 and over in the city have received the full two doses of the vaccine.

Following the latest assessment of Hà Nội People’s Committee, Hoàn Kiếm District allows on-site dining in 11 wards: Đồng Xuân, Hàng Bạc, Hàng Bồ, Hàng Buồm, Hàng Đào, Hàng Mã, Hàng Trống, Lý Thái Tổ, Phan Chu Trinh, Trần Hưng Đạo, and Tràng Tiền.

Last week, on-site dining was allowed in just five wards in the district.

Once assessed as yellow, the wards can resume indoor exercise and sports activities. However, indoor sport facilities are only allowed to operate at half capacity, not gathering more than 30 people at a time.

Restaurants and food service establishments, except alcohol, beer and draft beer businesses, are allowed to reopen but not exceed half seating capacity, and must close by 9pm. Staff must receive two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or have recovered from the virus.

The Hà Nội Department of Education and Training on Saturday sent an urgent message, requiring secondary and high schools and vocational training establishments in districts and communes in orange zone to temporarily suspend offline learning to move to online learning for 9th and 12th graders from January 17.  

Meanwhile, students of grades 9 and 12 of schools in districts, communes and wards in green and yellow zones will return to schools. — VNS