Police in Hà Nội on Monday go to Bắc Giang Province to support inspection to ensure social security and COVID-19 prevention and control. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

HÀ NỘI — Bắc Giang and Bắc Ninh provinces have launched social distancing in several localities to stop the spread of COVID-19.

From Monday night, Bắc Giang Province temporarily closed Đình Trám, Quang Châu, Vân Trung and Song Khê-Nội Hoàng industrial zones.

It also put social distancing measures in place in Việt Yên District and three communes of Yên Dũng District including Nội Hoàng, Tiền Phong and Yên Lư until further notice from the provincial People’s Committee.

Bắc Giang Province asked everyone in locked-down areas to stay at home, only go out in case of absolute necessity such as buying food, medicine, emergencies or to work in essential services.

People must keep a distance of at least two metres when communicating and not gather in groups of more than two people outside of offices, schools, hospitals and public places.

It has also suspended festivals, cultural, sports and entertainment activities at public places, religious, belief and worship facilities.

The province also set up checkpoints from Monday night to control locked-down areas.

Bắc Ninh Province also applied social distancing in Bắc Ninh City and Quế Võ District from 6am on Tuesday until the end of Thursday.

The social distancing aims to aid in the checking, testing and zoning of affected areas.

Bắc Ninh has recorded 294 COVID-19 cases since April 29. It has found 2,900 people who had close contact with the patients and quarantined them.

It has also strengthened the work of COVID-19 prevention and control community groups and is monitoring the number of workers entering and exiting the province.

In addition, Bắc Ninh has boosted pandemic prevention and control in industrial zones, tightened prevention and control at medical facilities and prepared human resources and medical equipment for various scenarios.

Those who have been in industrial zones in Bắc Giang Province from May 3 should immediately quarantine themselves at home and contact the nearest health agency or call the province's hotlines, which are available on the website bacninhcdc.vn, for advice and support. — VNS