Authorities in Ca Mau fined three officers from state-run organizations a total of VND51 million (US$2,237) for visiting a café together despite social distancing restrictions in the southernmost Vietnamese province.

Phuong Thanh Liem, an officer at the social security office in Ca Mau’s Dam Doi District, Trinh Khoi Nghia, deputy head of the home affairs department in the same district, and Trinh Chien Thang, who works at Dam Doi General Hospital, on Tuesday paid a fine of VND17 million ($745) each for their violations.

Local people reported that the three men were drinking coffee at Phi Yen 2 Café in Dam Doi Town in the namesake district on July 22 while all 19 southern provinces and cities, including Ca Mau, were under strict social distancing measures in accordance with the prime minister’s Directive No. 16.

A task force of the district’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control visited the café to verify the report and booked the three officers for gathering in a group of more than two people, leaving home without a proper reason, wearing no face masks, and failing to keep a distance from each other, as per regulations.

In addition to the VND17-million fine, Liem was disciplined for his infringements, Trinh Trung Kien, director of the Ca Mau Social Security, said on Tuesday.

Local authorities did not mention a punishment for the café that hosted the three men.

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