Complete and majority compliance with COVID-19 preventative measures among owners of drinking and eating establishments and residents in Da Nang were reported by four days after the city’s further relaxation of restrictions. However, some people were found breaching health and safe regulations for negligence, especially the 5K recommendations from the Ministry of Health.  In addition, some teenagers were caught driving in a dangerous manner.

The officers on the Rapid Response Team patrolling in Hoa Tho Tay Ward, Cam Le District to enforce COVID-19 rules for local residents. Photo: LE HUNG

Strengthening enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines

Hai Chau District People's Committee Vice Chairman Truong Thanh Dung stated that people have gone out more after additional restrictions have been dropped and more activities have been reintroduced in the city. Non-adherence with preventative measures has been found in the city as some persons have been seen not wearing face masks when gathering with their neighbours and friends in residential areas for drinking coffee. They have breached face mask and social distancing rules due to negligence.

Mr Dung said that police officers are deploying across the district to take action against COVID-19 rule violators with a focus on increasing patrols in the early morning and evening hours. The district authorities are putting down strict rules to have penalties to enforce them to deter violations in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus amid the city’s reopening.  

In a similar move, police officers in Thanh Khe District on October 1 were deployed to residential areas to strictly handle violations of social distancing rules. All necessary measures are being taken to prepare for reopening wet markets by local authorities.

The heed is paid on raising public awareness about safe practices and requiring their voluntary cooperation to take action to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 as well as safeguard their green zones.

Focusing efforts on tackling crime

From September 28 to October 1, two cases have been caught in possession of illegal drugs, some persons were arrested for public order offences, and 4 theft cases were detected by Da Nang police.

Police officers have broken up a melee involving 20 juveniles. Following the incident which occurred at 9:00pm on September 30 on a Da Nang street, 7 persons were arrested. Police officers then conducted investigations to identify the group of youths involved in the incident, and all involved offenders were asked to attend the Thanh Binh Ward Police Station for an interview about their offences.

Colonel Tran Muu, the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Police Department expressed deep concern about public order offences after Da Nang further eased restrictions, posing the hidden threat of COVID-19 to the city.

Mr Muu highlighted the need to focus efforts on tackling crime, particularly violent crime and organised criminals. Criminal laws along with COVID-19 rules and regulations must be strictly enforced to establish peace in the society amid the city’s reopening in order to deter the offenders to commit the crime, he emphasized.

Every one across Da Nang must have a part to play in the fight against COVID-19, and they play a critical role in their city’s success in dealing with coronavirus. In addition, the city is implementing stronger enforcement of COVID-19 rules, including face mask, social distancing and health declaration regulations, in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.

Reporting by THIEN DUYEN - TRI DUNG – translating by H.L