Shops closed, services in Vinh city 'holding their breath' waiting for the end of Covid epidemic

Entering the second day of implementing Prime Minister's Directive 16-CT/TTg on social distancing, the busiest commercial streets in Vinh City such as Lenin Avenue - Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Ho Tung Mau Street, Tran Phu, Nguyen Van Cu, Herman, Nguyen Phong Sac, Phung Chi Kien... are all deserted. Shops, entertainment venues, and public services have all complied quite well with the order to temporarily suspend operations.

Normally, the area in front of hospitals such as Provincial General Hospital, Traditional Medicine Hospital, Oncology Hospital... is always bustling with food services, street vendors, coffee shops... but for the past two days, it has been deserted.

The intersection between Phung Chi Kien and Tue Tinh streets, in Ha Huy Tap ward (in front of the gate of the Traditional Medicine Hospital), which is usually crowded with people, is now deserted. Photo: Nguyen Hai

"This street used to be a crowded place, with his coffee shop receiving 120-150 customers every day. However, in compliance with the Covid infection prevention order, the shop has reduced its number of customers since March 28 and has temporarily closed since April 1 to implement social distancing. Currently, the ward regularly inspects, and residents also monitor, so as soon as the shop opens and a few groups of customers arrive, the ward will immediately remind them. Currently, the shop has switched to home delivery.

Mr. Tran Ha, a coffee shop owner on Herman Street, Hung Phuc Ward

On the laundry street and the Nguyen Si Sach self-driving car service street, dozens of self-driving cars are sitting idle. Ms. Huong, the owner of a self-driving car rental service, said: although public transport has been limited due to the quarantine order, there has been no sudden change in the number of passengers, all 7 cars are still at home. Perhaps due to concerns about the epidemic, people are also traveling less, so this service is almost frozen.

Nguyen Si Sach Street, Hung Dung Ward is a place with many self-drive rental car companies, but because few people rent, many cars gather there. Photo: NH

Further investigation revealed that the situation in wards and communes is similar, with most of the major shops and service points announcing temporary closures. From our observations, there are occasionally a few shops or kiosks that are still open, but only to provide home delivery services to customers.

Mr. D, an employee of a seafood restaurant on 3-2 Street, added: to limit crowds, from March 28, the restaurant had to temporarily stop serving customers at the restaurant. However, to do business and serve customers' needs, the restaurant is maintaining home delivery service. The restaurant also stipulates that employees must wear masks and maintain distance when interacting with customers.

The intersection of Lenin Avenue and Phung Chi Kien Street in Ha Huy Tap Ward is a gathering place with many coffee shops and beer bars, but it is also quiet due to social distancing orders. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Along with food and beverage service establishments, public passenger transport services are also subject to the order to temporarily suspend operations for social distancing. Up to this point, bus companies, Vinh Railway Station and Vinh International Airport have temporarily suspended services. Taxi companies must also comply with the temporary suspension from April 1.

On Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, the Mai Linh taxi parking lot is full as more than 500 of the company's vehicles have stopped operating, waiting for the epidemic to pass.

After the bus routes stopped operating, the public passenger transport station also extended and reduced routes, so there were few passengers. Bac Vinh bus station was deserted. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Talking to us, Major Nguyen Duc Dung - Deputy Head of Vinh City Police said: After the first day of implementing the social isolation order, the unit has not yet punished any unit but mainly deployed to propagate and monitor to remind stalls, food and beverage businesses, entertainment or public services to strictly comply with regulations. The unit will direct the wards to strengthen inspection and supervision, and in case of any intentional violation, the unit will strictly punish to educate and deter.

Previously, on March 28, a restaurant on Phan Dinh Phung Street was warned by Quang Trung Ward Police for not complying with the order to temporarily suspend service to limit large gatherings according to Directive 15-CT/TTg. Then, on March 31, during patrol activities, Hong Son Ward Police fined a citizen for intentionally not wearing a mask in public.

Hong Son Ward Police fined a citizen for not wearing a mask in public. Photo: Nhat Hung

Comrade Dau Vinh Thinh - Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee, Deputy Standing Member of Vinh City Covid Prevention and Control Steering Committee said: Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister, on April 1, Vinh City People's Committee issued a detailed instruction document; at the same time, assigned the City Police and People's Committees of wards and communes to strengthen the mobilization of people of all walks of life to voluntarily comply. In the immediate future, assigned the functional forces to actively patrol and monitor to propagate and remind stall and restaurant owners who are subject to temporary suspension for social isolation; cases of intentional violations will be punished according to regulations.