Hanoi will strictly punish people who violate precautionary measures against the novel coronavirus at a time when the National Day and the new school year are approaching.

Hanoi's officials at a meeting on Aug 25. Photo: Kinhtedothi

Local authorities will continue fining and punishing owners of hospital, restaurants, or eateries that fail to meet safety rules; shaming heads of violating organizations, and suspending violating facilities.

The authority intensified sanctions of violators in a campaign that the local government has conducted since August 19 after Hanoi reported more than 10 locally-infected Covid-19 cases.

Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, deputy head of the city’s Party Committee, said heads of state agencies and organizations need to assume responsibility for the battle against the pandemic in the offices and localities under their jurisdiction.

“The municipal Party Committee will refer leaders’ response to the pandemic to the evaluation of their competence and sense of responsibility,” Ms. Hang said at a meeting Tuesday.

The health sector has suspended the operations of three hospitals since they failed to follow safety rules as a tough move to ensure safety for 80 state and private hospitals and nearly 3,400 private clinics.

Sharing the same ideas, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Van Quy said local authorities need check preventive measures at restaurants and eateries which are regarded as high-risk areas.

All the efforts are aimed to prepare for safe opening ceremonies of the new academic year that will take place on September 5.

According to Chu Xuan Dung, head of the city’s Department of Education and Training, every educational facilities must ensure safety for the new school year opening which will welcome more than two million schoolchildren at 2,794 schools in the city.

Since the coronavirus re-emerged in Danang on July 25, Hanoi has confirmed 11 local infections, all linked to Danang.