Suối Tiên theme park in HCM City’s District 9 will remain closed until the end of March as the city struggles to combat Covid-19. — VNS Photo Gia Lộc

HCM CITY— The HCM City People’s Committee ordered the closure of cinemas, night clubs, karaoke parlours, and theatres from March 15 to the month-end to prevent congregations of people, which increases the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Bars are closed in many places, and unhappy owners are asking landlords to reduce rents.

The owner of a nightclub in the city said he paid US$10,000 a month and was also asking his landlord to reduce it.

Other bar owners have asked to switch to sell coffee or food to remain in business. 

Hotel representatives told Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper they have closed their bars.

Cinemas said turnover had been down by 50-90 per cent since Tết in late January due to the epidemic, and the temporary closure would hurt even worse. They expect the Government to help them overcome this difficult period.

Suối Tiên theme park in District 9 closed yesterday (March 16) and will remain so until month end.

Đầm Sen Park in District 11 remains open but the number of visitors is down 70-80 per cent and is considering temporary closure.

Tourism sites in the southern province of Đồng Nai such as Thác Giang Điền, Bọ Cạp Vàng and Cát Tiên National Park have also seen a decrease in visitors and are also thinking about closing temporarily.

Some 150 private schools mostly in HCM City and Hà Nội have sent a petition to Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc asking for help saying after eight weeks of closure they face the threat of bankruptcy.

They have had to borrow from banks to pay the salaries of their teachers and staff and rents.

“We are exhausted,” they wrote in their petition. 

Tourist sites closed 

A number of provinces and cities across the country have temporarily closed tourist sites to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The northern province of Thái Bình on Monday decided to close five relic sites, including Đồng Bằng Temple, A Sào Temple, Keo Pagoda, Trần Temple and Tiên La Temple. All are famous sites in the province which attract a large number of tourists.

By Monday, Thái Bình had 62 people suspected of having the virus. They are under quarantine and in a stable condition, according to the provincial Department of Health.

Director of the Bình Định Province Department of Tourism Nguyễn Văn Dũng on Monday evening sent an urgent letter to organisations in the province, calling on them to stop admitting tourists to major attractions.

The suspension will start from Tuesday until the province receives new orders.

The central province of Bình Định has so far recorded no COVID-19 patients.

The southern province of Kiên Giang stopped receiving international tourists and domestic tourists from areas with the pandemic from 7am on Tuesday.

Restaurants and shops must implement preventive measures.

The province has one COVID-19 patient, who was the 54th patient in Việt Nam. The Latvian patient came to Phú Quốc Island and is now under treatment at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

All people in contact with the patients have been quarantined. — VNS