Ignoring the quarantine order, many non-essential stalls in Nghe An remain open

On the morning of April 3, walking around the main streets of Vinh city, the streets were deserted, most of the shops and kiosks selling non-essential goods were closed or had signs saying "Temporarily closed due to Covid-19". However, there were still some shops under the ban that were still open for business.

On the morning of April 3, many non-essential businesses in Vinh city were still open. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Specifically, on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, mobile phone shops are open, the lights are on, and customers are coming and going. Faced with this situation, the People's Committee of Hung Binh Ward has established two working groups to patrol, control, detect, and remind. Many kiosk owners explained: "The kiosk is both a residence and a place of business, so it is only open "for ventilation".

Mr. Ho Viet Thanh - Vice Chairman of Hung Binh Ward People's Committee (Vinh City) said: "Previously, the delegation went to each kiosk and business store to propagate, disseminate and distribute documents about the Prime Minister's directive, the Provincial and City People's Committee's directive and the ward's directive on closing kiosks and businesses selling non-essential goods. This morning, the delegation continued to patrol, review, remind and punish cases of non-compliance."

Authorities of Hung Binh ward reminded kiosks to strictly comply with the order to temporarily close non-essential services. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In addition, at some local markets, typically Coi market (Hung Loc commune), stalls selling non-essential goods such as shoes, clothes, bedding, household appliances, etc. are still open for business as usual. Many kiosks around Hung Dung market are only half-closed when customers come in to buy, but they are still open to welcome customers...

There is an electronics supermarket on Le Hong Phong Street, although it is closed outside, it does not have a "temporarily closed" sign, but it still secretly sells goods inside. When there are customers, the supermarket security guard will guide them to "go through the back door" and at this back door there is another security guard who leads the customers in. Inside, the supermarket has about 3-5 employees to welcome customers, sell goods, and take payments. According to the reporter's observations, from 9am to 11am on April 3, at this electronics supermarket, there were about 20 customers coming to buy items such as: computers, water purifiers, televisions, refrigerators, etc.

Although the outside is closed, when a customer asks to buy something, the security guard of the HC electronics supermarket on Le Hong Phong Street (Vinh City) guides the customer through the back door. Inside, the supermarket still sells normally to customers who come to buy electronic and refrigeration equipment. (Photo taken on the morning of April 3). Photo: PV

On the afternoon of April 3, the functional forces of Hong Son ward (Vinh city) established teams to patrol, control and handle kiosks selling non-essential goods that did not comply with the closure order.

The authorities also made a working record requiring 10 stores selling non-essential goods on Tran Phu Street to comply with the closure order according to Directive 16 of the Prime Minister and Official Dispatch 1818 of the Provincial People's Committee stipulating the services that are allowed to operate and are not allowed to operate from 0:00 on March 28, 2020 until the end of April 15, 2020.

At Giat market, Quynh Luu district, as recorded on April 3, many household goods stalls were still open and operating as usual. A shoe trader on the first floor of Giat market said: "We wear masks every day when selling goods, but we will only close the store when the market management board requests it."

Due to not complying with the temporary suspension of operations and selling non-essential items, dozens of stalls at Giat market are still open.

At Giat market, many household goods stalls are still open for business. Photo: Viet Hung

Regarding the fact that many traders have not closed non-essential goods, a representative of the Giat Market Management Board said that after the Prime Minister's directive on urgent response to the Covid-19 epidemic, the Market Management Board has continuously announced on the market's loudspeaker to inform traders. Yesterday (April 2), nearly 200 stalls on the 2nd floor specializing in selling clothes, shoes, and hats were closed by traders; this morning, April 3, the unit continued to propagate and about 50% of the stalls of traders on the 1st floor have arranged to temporarily close.

In Do Luong town (Do Luong), there are more than 400 stores selling non-essential goods. In recent days, the town People's Committee has sent functional forces directly to the blocks to propagate and mobilize people to close kiosks selling non-essential goods.

However, as of the morning of April 3, there were still some non-essential stores in the town that had not complied. Faced with this situation, the town People's Committee continued to send a security team to coordinate with the police and military to the grassroots to force non-essential stores to strictly implement the temporary closure according to the Government's direction.

On the morning of April 3, the Order Team of Do Luong town continued to go to the grassroots to force non-essential businesses to close to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: Xuan Hoang

At the Do Luong District Trade Center Market on the morning of April 3, most of the clothing and footwear stalls were closed and not open for sale.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Kieu - Director of Do Luong Trade Center, implementing the direction of the local government on Covid-19 prevention, from April 1, the Management Board has mobilized people to close stalls selling shoes, clothes and some other items in the market to temporarily stop doing business. Currently, 2/3 of the stalls selling non-essential items in the market have closed. It is expected that by the end of April 3, the remaining stalls will be closed.

On March 27, 2020, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Official Dispatch No. 1818 stipulating the services that are allowed to operate and are not allowed to operate from 0:00 on March 28, 2020 to the end of April 15, 2020. Accordingly, the People's Committee of Nghe An province stipulates that the following services are allowed to operate, including: Supermarkets (except for on-site entertainment and dining services); Hotels, shopping malls; Traditional markets; Grocery stores, convenience stores, mini supermarkets, flower and fruit shops (except for on-site dining services); Agricultural and food business chains; Establishments selling medicine for human disease prevention and treatment; clinics; Services: Banks, offices, postal services, telecommunications; Establishments selling construction materials, gasoline, oil, gas, and fuel gas; Businesses selling fertilizers, pesticides, vaccines for livestock and poultry... Non-essential services are temporarily closed until April 15.