Beaches in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, including those in the tourist hotspot of Nha Trang City, have been reopened to the public after a month-long closure due to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa on Sunday issued a document officially allowing beach going, activities related to coastal water surface, and seaside parks to resume from Monday.
District-level authorities are responsible for monitoring these activities, stationing life guards on the beaches, and arranging forces to popularize social distancing rules and urge people to uphold best practices.
Meanwhile, beachgoers are asked to wear face masks and not to gather in groups of more than 30 people at seaside parks and on the beaches.
Khanh Hoa’s administration fenced off its beaches and suspended all beach-related activities in April 1, in adherence to the prime minister's social distancing order to fight COVID-19.
Enhanced social distancing measures, including closing tourist attractions and lodging facilities and banning inter-province commercial passenger transport together with gatherings of more than two people in public spaces, were in place from April 1 to 15 in the entire nation and prolonged through April 22 in 28 provinces and cities.
Businesses have been gradually reopened and commercial transport resumed between provinces and cities in Vietnam, following the relaxing of the social distancing rules from April 23.
Like Khanh Hoa, the northern province of Quang Ninh, the central city of Da Nang, and the south-central province of Binh Thuan have also welcomed back beachgoers.
By contrast, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, where people in southern Vietnam often visit for quick weekend getaways as it is just a two-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, has kept its beaches closed.
Vietnam has so far reported 271 COVID-19 infections, with the latest patient confirmed on Sunday being an imported case from the UK.
Only 52 patients remain in treatment, including 14 relapse cases, while 219 have recovered.
There has been no death caused by the disease in the country.
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