Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc chairs the meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control in Hà Nội on Thursday. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has decided to allow non-essential service establishments, except for clubs and karaoke bars, to resume operations but they have to maintain preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision was made at a meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control in Hà Nội on Thursday after three weeks without new community transmission cases of COVID-19 in Việt Nam.

Sports activities, football matches and crowded events are also allowed to reopen but participants are suggested to wear face masks and wash hands with sanitiser.

The Government chief also decided mask wearing and social distancing are not mandatory for students in classrooms but students are advised to maintain personal hygiene and regularly wash hands with antibacterial soap or sanitiser.

Doors and windows should be opened regularly to facilitate air circulation while classrooms must be clean, PM Phúc added.

He asked each citizen and business to get used to a 'new normal', which means gradually restarting socio-economic activities as usual while maintaining COVID-19 prevention measues.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the world, PM Phúc instructed relevant authorities to continue measures to prevent importation of new cases, including compulsory 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers.

Steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control needed to continue maintain fast-response teams to quickly trace, isolate and handle positive cases and those who have been in close contact with them, the PM said.

Mask wearing remains mandatory in public places and on crowded transport vehicles, he said.

Regarding customs clearance, PM Phúc agreed to allow reopening of some minor border checkpoints and border crossings in northern Lạng Sơn and Quảng Ninh provinces as per the proposals of the two provinces that share a border with China.

For other border provinces, the local authorities can decide themselves in a cautious and meticulous manner whether to reopen their minor border checkpoints and border crossings provided that measures and procedures for COVID-19 prevention and control are strictly observed, according to the PM.

Minor border checkpoints and border crossings will only be reopened in case of huge volume of goods, especially agricultural and aquatic products and materials for domestic production, the PM said.

He instructed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourisms to promptly guide localities to develop information dissemination plans to promote tourism in safe places and prepare plans to reopen foreign tourism markets at an appropriate time.

The PM asked relevant ministries and agencies to take measures to quickly resolve consequences of the disease in order to develop the economy, create jobs and improve the living conditions of people.
He agreed with the proposal to remove social distancing on means of public transport but passengers are required to wear face masks.

Hospitals will also resume normal operation.

The PM urged ministris, agencies, sectors and People’s Committees of localities to seriously implement tasks and solutions assigned by the Government, including taking measures to tackle difficulties for production and business activities. — VNS