Children play on the pedestrian streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HÀ NỘI — After remaining closed for more than three months, the People's Committee of Hoàn Kiếm District in Hà Nội has announced the capital city’s popular ‘walking streets’ will reopen on Friday (May 15).

According to the committee, the pedestrian streets, including those around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, its neighbouring streets in the Old Quarter, such as Hàng Đào, Hàng Giấy and Đồng Xuân Night Market had been closed in line with the Government’s regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

The streets were closed in early February as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Viet Nam, prior to an order from the Prime Minister to close all non-essential businesses nationwide from March 26. 

The streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, including Hàng Đào and Hàng Giấy, as well as Đồng Xuân Night Market would reopen to residents and tourists from 7pm on Friday evening, through to midnight on Sunday. 

Together with implementing measures on disease prevention and control, Hà Nội as well as other localities in Việt Nam will attempt to revive economic growth.

The wearing of face masks will remain in place to ensure the country’s lack of community transmission for four weeks remains intact. 

The city’s Health Department has announced that street food vendors would have to wear face masks while preparing food and drinks for customers, as well as keep a distance of at least one metre from customers.

By Thursday morning, Việt Nam confirmed 288 COVID-19 cases, of which 259 cases have recovered and zero deaths were reported relating to the virus in the country. Thursday also marks the 28th day of no community transmission in Việt Nam.

The last person to contract the virus on a community level was a 36-year-old woman from Thường Tín District’s Đông Cứu Village on the outskirts of Hà Nội.

The lockdown of the village with 1,200 residents isolated was lifted at midnight on Thursday.

The first COVID-19 case was reported in Hà Nội on March 6. Hà Nội has had 112 COVID-19 cases, of which, 101 have recovered. — VNS