Police in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi have levied fines worth a total of VND319 million (US$13,800) upon 134 people, including foreigners, for failure to wear face masks in public since April 30.

On Monday alone, the functional forces had handled 22 violation cases in the district, imposing fines totaling VND44 million ($1,900) as of 3:00 pm.

Four foreigners were among the violators, with each subject to a fine of VND2 million ($87).

According to a government decree that took effect from September 28, 2020, failure to practice personal protection measures, including wearing face masks in public, as instructed by health authorities, shall be punishable by a fine of VND1-3 million ($43-130).

“In cases where the violators fail to pay the fines, we will send a notification to the local authorities of their residencies or schools to secure the payments,” said Senior Lieutenant Colonel Bui Van Dang, deputy head of the Hoan Kiem District police division. 

In Dong Anh District, 50 maskless cases were booked in public.

Five of them were fined a total of VND10 million ($432).

Authorities in Hanoi have also suspended sidewalk stalls from operations starting 5:00 pm on Monday to ramp up their prevention against COVID-19 transmission.

The Vietnamese capital city has confirmed five local COVID-19 cases since April 27, according to the municipal health department, after the country had gone about a month without detecting any community transmission.

Vietnam has recorded 2,985 coronavirus infections, including 1,607 local cases and 35 deaths, since the virus first struck the country on January 23, 2020, according to the health ministry’s data.

Recoveries have reached 2,560 as of Tuesday morning.

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