Hanoi’s business restriction is not applied to supermarkets, wet markets, and shopping centers while others are requested to shut until April 15 as a measure to curb the spread of the pandemic.
| Local residents are shopping at a supermarket. Photo: VnExpress |
At a meeting of the city's Steering Committee for the Covid-19 Prevention and Control on March 27, mayor Nguyen Duc Chung stated those businesses supplying basic necessities to the population should not be closed. They include supermarkets, shopping centers, wet markets, convenience stores and minimarkets, grocery stores, food and drug stores, health care services, banking services and filling stations.
The city’s mayor encouraged residents to turn to e-commerce and home delivery for shopping. Given some sidewalk tea stalls and home appliances stores are still open, Chung asked functional agencies to enforce the business restriction order.
Deputy Director of Department of Industry and Trade Tran Thi Phuong Lan said that the business restriction order is not specific enough, creating confusion as to what non-essential businesses are.
As some locals are stockpiling goods, Lan suggested that communication work should be enhanced so that citizens understand that essential services would not be ceased, including food and drug stores and the city will ensure supply of basic necessities.
Hanoi has currently 26 shopping centers, 141 supermarkets, 674 petrol shops, and more than 400 wet markets. “These service facilities are allowed to open,” Lan said.
