BackStories » Hanoi » Hanoi Announces Heavy Fines for Social Distancing Violations

Though identification of new Covid-19 cases has slowed in recent days, Hanoi authorities are taking steps to halt the threat of community spread by implementing a series of new penalties for those ignoring social distancing guidelines.

According to a report in The Saigon Times, under new regualtions released by Hanoi’s Department of Justice, fines are applied for a number of instances:

  • Traveling in public areas without a face mask (VND300,000).
  • Improperly disposing of used face masks or dropping them on the street (up to VND7 million). 
  • Failing to report Covid-19 symptoms for yourself or others (VND2 million).
  • Ignoring mandatory quarantine orders (VND10 million and possible criminal charges). 
  • Returning from disease-hit areas and failing to comply with quarantine or treatment protocols (up to VND20 million).
  • Organizations and individuals that ignore regulations forbidding large gatherings (VND20 million and VND10 million, respectively).
  • Eateries that fail to suspend operations (VND10–20 million).
  • Those who spread false information or horde medical supplies will also be charged under existing regulations. 

The capital is under particular strains as it is home to Bach Mai Hospital, one of Vietnam’s largest medical centers and Covid-19 clusters. The hospital stopped admitting new patients on March 28 after a number of employees from Truong Sinh Company, which provides food and logistics services to the hospital, tested positive for Covid-19. Sixty-one cases have been linked to the hospital at the time of publishing. 

Social distancing and other regulations imposed nationwide over the past few weeks seem to be making an impact on the spread of Covid-19 with only four new cases reported during the weekend.

There are, however, a number of examples of those not in compliance with such protocols contributing to the announcement of the above fines. 

As of this afternoon, Vietnam has reported 241 total cases of which 91 have made a full recovery. 

[Photo via Tin Moi]

Related Articles

in Vietnam

Da Nang Restarts Social Distancing After Cases of Covid-19 Community Transmission Emerge

Over the weekend, Vietnam recorded five new COVID-19 infections, four of which are community transmissions, putting an end to the country’s 99-day streak without local infections.

in Hanoi

Hanoi Asks Pharmacies to Report Customers Buying Treatment for Cold, Cough and Fever

Hanoi's 7,000 pharmacies have been instructed to report customers who purchase medicine to treat symptoms associated with Covid-19.

in Hanoi

Hanoi CDC to Propose Reopening of Non-Essential Businesses

With the COVID-19 outbreak in the city evidently under control, Hanoi’s health authorities are proposing to reopen a few non-essential services.

in Hanoi

Hanoi Eases Lockdown Restrictions, Reopens Malls, Barbershops

Starting at 6am today, Hanoi began applying social distancing rules under the previous Directive 15, allowing various shops to reopen and businesses to function at 50% capacity.

in Tech

Vietnamese Scientists Are Developing an AI to Detect Covid-19 via Cough Sounds

Vietnamese engineers are encouraging the community to submit 5,000 different cough recordings. This will be used as data for building AI software — AICOVIDVN — that can detect COVID-19 ...

in Health

2nd Made-in-Vietnam Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate Enters Human Trials

A second COVID-19 candidate vaccine has officially entered the human trial phase. 

Partner Content