Hang Dao street, a busy trading hub in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, is almost empty during social distancing.

The Committee which voted unanimously on Thursday to keep the measures in place also said that restrictions will remain in lower risk areas and safe zones, but less strict than Directive 16 and stricter than Directive 15 to aid the recovery of production and business activities and support red zones.

But no details have been given as to which locations will be designated as red, orange or green zones.

Directive 16 bans gatherings of more than two people in public and requires people to stay home and only go out for basic necessities like buying food or medicines or to work at places that are still allowed to open.

Directive 15 requires suspension of social events and bans gatherings of 20 people or more in one place and of 10 people or more outside workplaces, schools and hospitals. 

Hanoi has recorded more than 3,900 COVID-19 infections.