10:04, 10/04/2020

Appropriate etiquette amid COVID-19 pandemic

Many people in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province have been practicing appropriate etiquette and showed their social responsibility in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic

Many people in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province have been practicing appropriate etiquette and showed their social responsibility in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic. Many wedding ceremonies have been suspended; funerals have been held with limited pallbearers and attendees; almost all people have worn masks at public places. These are some changes in etiquette that people in Nha Trang have taken these days to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 in community.
 
Changes in etiquette
 
Vu Bao (Thuy Xuong Street, Nha Trang) decided to cancel his wedding ceremony, which had been arranged to be held in mid-March. He and his wife did procedures for marriage registration at the ward People’s Committee and held a small family party instead of large wedding party at restaurant as scheduled. Bao was worried about cancelling the planned ceremony and getting their wedding down payment back. However, he was happy that the restaurant was nice and gave his money back.
 
According to a wedding restaurant in Vinh Hiep Commune, Nha Trang, there were many wedding reservations being booked to take place in March and April at the restaurant. However, many wedding ceremonies were cancelled due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. This is force majeure, so the restaurant has accepted cancellations and returned wedding down payment to customers with pleasure.
  
 
Mostly all people in Nha Trang wear masks when travelling on streets
Mostly all people in Nha Trang wear masks when travelling on streets
 
Not only wedding ceremonies, funerals and relevant acts have been held in a streamlined manner. Acknowledging the importance of social distancing amid the outbreak of COVID-19, many families in mourning reduced traditional ritual acts. People have mainly expressed their grief and condolences through social networks.  
 
Another recent positive change in social etiquette is that people have become more aware of wearing masks when going out or going to public places. Mostly all people in Nha Trang have fully acknowledged the effect of masks in protecting themselves and community from being infected. 
 
Positively disseminating regulations 
 
In the past days, there were many people registering marriages or announcing deaths at Phuong Son Ward People’s Committee. During the procedures, the committee’s officials have always encouraged locals to abide by the regulations and recommendations and minimize crowded gatherings to prevent the pandemic. The ward also formed a quick response group to disseminate regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control to all people in the locality.
 
Implementing the directive of the Government, Nha Trang City Bureau of Culture and Information have taken approaches to ask and encourage people to reduce the scale of wedding ceremonies and funerals; strictly practice social distancing; and wear masks in public places. The regulations and recommendations on COVID-19 prevention and control have been spread widely through propaganda vehicles. The local officials have also come to each house to ask people to obey the epidemic prevention and control regulations strictly.
 
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on April 3 released a document on raising the roles of community and families in preventing and controlling COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the ministry requested the localities to provide instructions and encourage locals to considerate delaying wedding ceremonies until the epidemic is declared over. Marriage announcement is encouraged. Regarding funerals, families who are in mourning are encouraged not to hold gatherings. Other large gatherings, parties, and meetings are not allowed.  
 
Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture and Sports dispatched documents to localities over the province on implementation of the ministry's directives. The proactive actions of the localities to raise public’s awareness of COVID-19 regulations and social distancing have effectively changed the social etiquette of many people. 
 
Giang Đinh
Translated by H.N