The fireworks over Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi on the Lunar New Year's Eve in 2020. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi’s authorities have decided to cancel the fireworkdisplay for the upcoming Lunar New Year's Eve due to COVID-19 concerns.
Chairmanof the Hanoi People's Committee Chu Ngoc Anh made the announcement at a meetingon January 19.
Earlierin January, the city planned a 15-minute firework display for the LunarNew Year’s Eve at Thong Nhat Park, but for online viewing only.
Thecity currently has the highest number of new daily infections in the countrydespite high vaccination rates.
Hanoidecided to cancel fireworks and countdown events on January 1, 2022, in anattempt to control the outbreak in the city. Instead, virtual events andpre-recorded cultural performance programmes were held.
Priorto COVID-19, firework displays were held across all 30 districts and townson Lunar New Year’s Eve.
Inthe directive on New Year celebrations, the city’s Party Committee told itslocalities to assess their situation and take precautions in organisingfirework displays.
Thecity People’s Committee also assigned departments, units and Hai Ba Trung districtto coordinate and be well-prepared for the fireworks.
Thecommittee required that the shows follow predetermined plans and allsafety measures are ensured. They should also economise, and not take fundingfrom the State budget.
TheMinistry of Health has recently worked with the Government Office regardingfirework displays and pandemic prevention and control measures during the LunarNew Year holiday.
Accordingto the ministry, numerous localities are still recording a significant numberof daily cases, while the highly-infectious Omicron variant is spreading acrosscountries in the region and the world.
Therefore,the health ministry does not recommend localities to host fireworkdisplays. But if they do, they need to ensure strict compliance with the5K regulations (Masks, Disinfection, Distance, No gathering, Healthdeclaration), and no large crowds can gather at firework venues./.
Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, Hanoi will not hold any outdoor activities for New Year’s eve, including countdown events and firework displays, according to the municipal Department of Culture and Sports.
Hanoi will set off fireworks at both high-altitude and low-altitude from only one location - the Thong Nhat Park in Hai Ba Trung district - on the upcoming Lunar New Year’s Eve, according to a plan recently issued by the municipal People’s Committee.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has asked local departments under its wings to advise cities and provinces nationwide to cancel festivals and fireworks displays celebrating Tet, Vietnam’s traditional New Year which will come by the end of this month, as concerns rise over COVID-19 spike.
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The fireworks over Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi on the Lunar New Year's Eve in 2020. (Photo: VNA) 
