As of Monday, September 6, 16 out of the total 56 wards and communes in Da Nang had been classified as green zones which are at a low risk of the COVID-19 spread with no any case recorded in the past 14 days. In these virus-free zones, food and beverage service establishments are allowed to run online sales, as per the instructions by the municipal administration.

Despite being allowed to operate, many food and beverage service establishments in ‘green zones’ like this bread shop still close their doors. Photo: QUYNH TRANG

However, as noted by DA NANG Newspaper reporters, many food and beverage service establishments in ‘green zones’ have so far been reluctant to resume their operation.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, residing in An Hai Bac Ward, Son Tra District said she had intended to make contact with a few eateries to make orders of ‘mi Quang’ (noodles with pork, shrimp, and fresh herbs), ‘bun’ (vermicelli) and ‘banh beo’ (Vietnamese bloating fern-shaped cake). However, no eatery has reopened so far.

The owners of these eatery said it was very difficult to run the home delivery service amid the unpredictable development of COVID-19 wave, and they will open their eateries once the virus resurgence is put under control across the city.

According to Mr. Tran Van Hung, Chairman of the An Hai Bac Ward People's Committee, no food and beverage service establishment across the ward has opened

When any facility wants to reopen for online sales, the ward-level authorities will check it thoroughly according to the criteria set forth such as food safety, environmental sanitation and equipment to ensure the required distances between the sellers and buyers.

In addition, one reason why the owners of eateries are not interested in resume their business is the fact that they are facing difficulties in ensuring fresh and sufficient ingredients to make meals for sale because they are only allowed to go to markets every 5 days.

Hoa Khe ward is the only ward in Thanh Khe District to be identified as a ‘green zone’. Mr. Dinh Viet Hong Le, Chairman of the Hoa Khe Ward People's Committee, said that there are more than 100 food and beverage shops ward-wide. However, till date, only one milk tea shop has re-opened.

“To be eligible for operation resumption, in addition to their locations tight in ‘green zones’, the shops’ owners are required to have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines. Also, the owners must be locals and report to the competent authorities the number of specific employees. In particular, the most important thing is that the shop’s owners must make written commitments to strictly comply with pandemic prevention and control processes.” said Mr. Le.

Till date, renowned food delivery applications such as Shopee Food and Grab Food have resumed their operation. However, the majority of food and beverage facilities displayed on these apps still post the notice “the halt of operation until September 16’.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG – Translating by A.T