Hong Kong tightens restrictions to avoid spike in Covid-19 cases
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, HONG KONG – Head of Hong Kong Carrie Lam announced a series of new measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 on Wednesday (5/1). Lam warned that the global financial center was on the verge of another outbreak, including Omikron.
“There is a rapid change in the pandemic situation that worries us,” Lam was quoted by the South China Morning Post page as saying on Wednesday (5/1).
Lam spoke as Hong Kong authorities launched contact tracing of Covid-19 patients across the city. Lam also ordered the Royal Caribbean cruise ship to return to port early as health officials fear a fifth wave of Covid-19 infections in the region.
Additionally, Hong Kong will implement a 6:00 p.m. curfew for all on-site catering services. Bars and pubs, gymnasiums, amusement parks, museums, party halls, beauty salons, swimming pools are among the 15 types of recreational areas that have been ordered closed for two weeks from Friday this week. Restaurants must also stop offering dine-in service to customers every day from 6 p.m. to 4:59 p.m. the next day during this time.
He further ordered a ban on passenger flights from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United States which took effect on Saturday (8/ 1) and is in effect until January 21. Travelers who have recently visited or transited through these countries will be banned from returning to Hong Kong for two weeks.
As part of tightened vaccine regulations for restaurants, the number of diners allowed per table will be reduced, limited to two for Type B venues, four for Type C and six for Type D. Previously, restaurants could seat up to four, six, and 12 people at a table respectively.
Large-scale events such as the Hong Kong Cyclothon will also be canceled along with local tours. Concerts will also be suspended for two weeks.
Lam hopes affected businesses will understand the decisive, swift and precise steps being taken to more broadly reduce exposure to the virus, especially as venues have been cleared to operate. Although some of these places have social distancing restrictions for almost a year while the infection is under control. Social distancing rules will be reviewed within a week.
“We haven’t closed this business place for a long time. I’m sure the operators are a bit worried because they can’t do business anymore. I ask for your understanding,” Lam said. “We will take decisive action to be able to contain the Omicron variant in a very short time,” he explained.
source: Reuters
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