A ban on swimming has been in place at beaches across Da Nang amid COVID-19 resurgence in early May 2021. The Management Board of Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches has deployed more than 200 officials and staff members across Son Tra Peninsula to advise residents not to visit and swim at beaches here.

Functional forces conduct their patrols on coastal areas in My An ward, Ngu Hanh Son District to ensure good practice of swimming ban among the public. Photo: THANH LAN

Crowds, including local residents and tourists, were gathered at beaches across Da Nang before Reunification Day (30 April) and Labour Day (1 May) holidays. However, local beaches have fallen quite since May 4 after the city has been hit with a swimming ban as bathers are being warned to avoid popular beaches.

Mr Nguyen Duc Vu, Head of the Management Board of Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches said that ‘advice against bathing’ notices had been erected at beaches on coastal routes of Nguyen Tat Thành, Hoang Sa, Truong Sa, and Vo Nguyen Giap in the night of May 3 before a ban was imposed on non-essential activities in the city from 0am on May 4 in a bid to contain the spreading coronavirus.  

The Da Nang government has imposed bans on large gathering, shuttered sporting, cultural and religious events, while medical experts urged people to practise “social distancing” to curb the spread.

Functional forces have been deployed to COVID-19 checkpoints in the 4 districts of Son Tra, Ngu Hanh Son, Lien Chieu and Thanh Khe to require residents to adhere to the city’s COVID-19 rules, including wearing face masks and keeping social distance in public settings.

Functional forces are currently deployed across the beaches in the city to advise residents and tourists not to swim. Specifically, patrol force and rescuers from the Management Board of Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches are working with other forces to staff at entrances and exits to beaches and venues where crowds can gather at peak times from 4am to 8am, and 3pm to 7pm daily in an attempt to enfore bans on swimming and gatherings.

Mr. Vu said that the focus has been paid on creating notices and reminders directly on loudspeakers or display with two bilingual English - Vietnamese versions in an effort to provide new guidance for residents and tourists about swimming ban at beaches.

Functional forces have imposed strictest penalities for non-compliance with the city’s regulations on face coverings and gatherings.

Observations from our reporters indicated that residents have seen complying with the city’s prevention measures to control COVID-19, including swimming ban at beaches.

Reporting by THANH LAN – Translating by H.L