Nguyễn Văn Quýnh at the police station. — VNA/VNS Photo

BẮC NINH — Police in the northern province of Bắc Ninh have decided to initiate legal proceedings against two men for failing to follow coronavirus prevention measures.

The offenders are Nguyễn Văn Quýnh, 34, a resident from Bắc Ninh Province’s Yên Phong District, and Thái Xuân Hưng, 37, hailing from Hà Nội’s Gia Lâm District.

The initial investigation revealed that Quýnh failed to wear mask in public on Tuesday despite being reminded by police, who he also insulted.

Hưng was guilty of the same offence on Monday at a checkpoint on provincial road 295B at the boundary between Gia Lâm District’s Yên Thường Commune and Từ Sơn Town’s Đình Bảng Ward. He not only ignored warnings from the police but also held them up for almost three hours.

Bắc Ninh Police said Quýnh and Hưng's actions had adversely affected the province’s COVID-19 prevention and control efforts and they should be punished accordingly.

Police in Thái Bình Province have also decided to commence legal proceedings against Trần Văn Mạnh for a similar offence.

Mạnh, 24, a local resident, reportedly not only failed to follow the social distancing directive but also assaulted officers on duty.

He was not wearing a helmet or mask when he drove through a COVID-19 checkpoint in the locality on Wednesday.

Việt Nam has issued regulations making it mandatory for all citizens to wear face masks while outdoors. Fines for those who disobey the regulations are up to VNĐ300,000 (US$12.80).

In the central province of Quảng Nam, an arrest warrant has been issued for Nguyễn Trung Thành, 32, on charges of stopping officials from executing their duty.

Thành is accused of assaulting a woman who works at a COVID-19 checkpoint in Phú Ninh District’s Tam Thành Commune, where he lives, after being asked to stop for a temperature check. — VNS