Many people walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake after the pedestrian streets around the lake reopened on May 15 after closing to prevent COVID-19. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The People's Committee of Hoàn Kiếm District in Hà Nội has announced the capital city’s popular ‘walking streets’ will temporarily close from Friday.

The move is made in line with the Hà Nội authorities’ regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, according to the committee’s vice chairman Đinh Hồng Phong.

The pedestrian streets include those around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, its neighbouring streets in the Old Quarter, such as Hàng Đào, Hàng Giấy and Đồng Xuân Night Market.

These streets often attract a large number of people which poses high risks for COVID-19 spreading without appropriate preventive measures, according to Phong.

The ‘walking street’ around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, for example, draws an average of around 3,000-5,000 visitors during the day and 15,000-20,000 at night.

This is the second time the district decided to close these pedestrian streets since the COVID-19 pandemic started to hit the country in early 2020. — VNS