Hanoi authorities will consider loosening the current social distancing mandate based on the real situation of each area in the capital city, the deputy chairman of the People’s Committee said on Tuesday.

During a meeting on COVID-19 prevention with lower-lever authorities, Chu Xuan Dung, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, pointed out that selected businesses in low-risk districts were already allowed to reopen, while other high-risk areas may see the ongoing movement curb relaxed after Wednesday.

Earlier, the city was put under the prime minister’s Directive No. 16, which requires non-essential businesses to be closed and unnecessary travels to be prohibited, for nearly two months before being subject to more relaxed measures since September 6.

“Other areas with detected coronavirus infections must complete mass testing and vaccination before they can narrow down the high-risk zones and monitor the situation,” Dung stated.

As Dung sees it, a two-pronged approach, which includes extensive screening and wide vaccine coverage, is required for Hanoi to quell the spread of the pathogen.

He also underscored that the best vaccine is the one that comes at the earliest, and ordered lower-level authorities to further promote the message among communities.

Relevant agencies must keep their guard up, stay updated on the government and city’s directions, and uphold the safety guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.

They must work to keep crowds from forming at vaccination sites and testing venues, the official added.

“We are doing a great job at maintaining the two-pronged solution to contain the disease, but more effort is still required,” Dung said.

The city is seeing positive progress in pushing back the virus, with a total of 5.36 million jabs distributed to 56.3 percent of the local populace as of Tuesday, the municipal Department of Health reported.

Local authorities target to test all residents for the novel coronavirus in an effort to drive back its spread and revive the capital's socio-economic development.

The city has recorded 4,331 coronavirus cases and 47 deaths since the pandemic erupted in Vietnam in early 2020, the Ministry of Health reported.

Nationwide, there have been 635,055 coronavirus infection cases and 15,936 fatalities.

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