The move was made as the COVID-19 pandemic remains complicated and unpredictable in both Ha Noi and other localities nationwide.

Ha Noi has been placed under social distancing in accordance with the Prime Minister's Directive No. 16 from July 24.

Under Directive No. 16, only factories, businesses and service establishments producing and providing essential goods and services are allowed to open and asked to ensure workers follow strict health guidelines.

All people are requested to stay at home and only go out in case of emergencies, buying food or medicine, or going to work at factories and essential services that are not closed down or halt operations.

If leaving home, people are requested to keep a minimum distance of two meters from each other. Any gathering of more than two people in public outside of offices, schools and hospitals is banned./.

By Kim An