The COVID-19 pandemic is becoming increasingly complex across the country. To limit the spread of the virus, many flexible and specific measures have been applied in various areas. In Hanoi, the city government has issued a directive to temporarily suspend the operations of karaoke establishments, bars, nightclubs, gaming centers, and internet cafes… starting from 12 AM on April 30, 2021. However, not everyone is taking this seriously.
While other businesses have paused operations to strictly comply with the pandemic prevention directives, many internet cafes are engaging in “self-sabotage,” secretly opening their doors and providing a gathering place for gamers to “grind.” Some of these gaming spots are so meticulous that they set up enclosed rooms to hide in case of inspections by authorities.
Specifically, since the directive was implemented, the police in Ba Dinh District have intensified inspections, discovering and strictly penalizing 2 gaming service establishments that continued to operate, imposing fines of 15 million VND on each establishment. These establishments violated the act of “not complying with the decision to apply measures to limit gatherings of large crowds or temporarily suspend business activities in public places” as stipulated in point c, clause 3, Article 12 of Decree 117/2020/ND-CP dated September 28, 2020, which regulates penalties for administrative violations in the healthcare sector.
Specifically, in the early hours of May 8, the Security Team of Ba Dinh District Police conducted an unexpected inspection of a gaming and internet service establishment on Alley 6 Vinh Phuc, Vinh Phuc Ward. At the time of inspection, approximately 30 “gamers” were found playing, along with 2 employees.
On May 18, Ba Dinh District Police continued to conduct an unexpected inspection of a gaming café on Alley 71 Tan Ap, Phuc Xa Ward. At the time of inspection, there were 24 customers playing and 1 employee present. Notably, due to the fear of penalties and being taken to quarantine centers, dozens of gamers at this illegal gaming café attempted to hide in an enclosed room together. However, this group was later discovered by the authorities.
However, this is just the ugly behavior of a small segment of gamers, as there are many in the gaming community who exhibit a strong spirit of pandemic resistance. Moreover, they are also supporting both materially and spiritually to those in the pandemic hotspots and the frontline teams.
Therefore, don’t let a “bad apple spoil the bunch,” as the actions of a few irresponsible individuals shouldn’t affect the overall perception of society towards Vietnamese gamers.