Editorial | Karaoke closures hit the right note at last

The government has been criticised for being indecisive in responding to the coronavirus outbreak, and with valid reason. Just days after having been challenged for sparing karaoke lounges and mahjong parlours from an extensive ban to curb infections in the city, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her cabinet rushed to include them. The delay has not just undermined confidence in the government, but also the effectiveness of measures to protect public health. But as the saying goes, better late than never.

To its credit, the government has not just targeted karaoke and mahjong premises. Under the rules that came into immediate effect on Wednesday, beauty centres, clubhouses, nightclubs and massage parlours will also close or face restrictions for 14 days. Together with the six categories banned since Saturday, such as restaurants, fitness centres and party rooms, 12 sectors are now regulated. Sweeping as it seems, it is wise to err on the side of caution. It would be too late to act should new infections be found in such places.

The infection risks arising from singing or playing mahjong are obvious, as are those from massage and beauty treatment centres. The karaoke infection cluster proved that fears of a loophole in social distancing rules were not unfounded.

Lam has said that measures against the virus have all along been based on scientific evidence and medical advice. But she admitted the four-person cap on public gatherings had no such basis. Officials were apparently satisfied that restrictions on restaurants and food licence holders would reduce risks at karaoke premises. There have also been suggestions that karaoke and mahjong parlours were left out because of complex licence issues. But the rush to put them, along with four other sectors, under the emergency health regulation in a government gazette proves otherwise. The last thing the government wants is to be seen as lagging in its response.