Tạ Hiện Street, a bustling street in Hà Nội's Old Quarter, is deserted during the city's social distancing period. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Social distancing restrictions will be eased in Hà Nội from April 23 as Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc agreed to downgrade the city from the COVID-19 high-risk group to medium-risk.

Some areas of the city like Thường Tín, Mê Linh and places with many infection cases are still classified as high risk and ordered to continue strict social distancing measures, the Cabinet leader said at a Government meeting on social distancing policies on Wednesday afternoon.

Along with Hà Nội, HCM City, Bắc Ninh and Hà Giang provinces are also in the medium-risk category.

Đồng Văn District in Hà Giang which is connected to an ethnic minority teenage patient deems as high-risk and has earlier been locked down on Wednesday afternoon.

Another 59 provinces and cities are in the low-risk group.

PM Phúc ordered local authorities of areas in medium- and low-risk groups to closely follow the pandemic developments and create conditions to resume production and business. Local authorities are given the right to decide which shops can open or not.

In high-risk areas, business activities on streets are strictly banned, he said.

He warned the public not to go out to celebrate loosened social distancing restrictions.

Activities like festivals, sports events involving a lot of people and operation of bars, karaoke venues, massage parlours, beauticians, flower shops and zoos are still banned.

He also advised people to continue to wear masks, keep away from each other at supermarkets and asked for quarantine measures on foreigners entering Việt Nam.

People are also asked to continue to stick to the recommendations of refraining from going out and gathering in large crowds. — VNS