The government has tried to strike an effective balance between anti-pandemic measures and normal life, preserving as much of the latter as possible. It has not worked. The tougher new measures that came into effect at 12.01am on Monday are as welcome as they are overdue. They are no more than proportionate to a week of 100-plus new infections every day, including a record number of 145 reported yesterday. It has dawned on officials that relying on existing measures to turn the tide was not a realistic option. If they did not act to tighten anti-contagion curbs, things were unlikely to get any better. The number of new cases was therefore more likely to spiral out of control. Headline measures announced yesterday tighten those introduced only a couple of weeks ago. Public gatherings are now limited to two instead of four. In-restaurant dining, previously permitted until 6pm, is now banned altogether. Face masks, already required in public indoor spaces, are now compulsory outside. These are significant tightenings. But they are incremental. Officials felt compelled to go the extra mile that seemed too far earlier this month. The tipping point was a growing wave of criticism from health experts over exemptions from Covid-19 quarantine rules for seafarers and aircrew coming in and out of Hong Kong. They said such workers were likely to be the reason for the recent surge in infections. This prompted the government to move at the weekend to curb ship crew changes and disembarkations by seafarers in Hong Kong, and toughen Covid-19 test rules for aircrew. But a lack of a sense of urgency still marred its response. Experts rightly questioned why these measures would not come into force until Monday. It remains unclear why there had to be a three-day window for further possible contagion. The new mask rules will exempt only those under the age of two or with a “reasonable excuse” such as medical conditions, with no exemption granted for exercise. Hong Kong bans public groups larger than two, restaurant dining as Covid-19 cases hit 145 The new measures might seem harsh or unnecessary. But the increasing number of local infections, and the worrying proportion that remain untraceable, left little choice. The government is to be commended for a range of testing initiatives to reinforce the effectiveness of the latest curbs. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung says it is not currently considering a lockdown, given how disruptive it would be to residents’ lives. But to take that last resort right off the table, the government must show strength and decisiveness in securing compliance and cooperation from the whole community in the most radical social-distancing measures yet. In that respect it is important to secure the support of employers for work-from-home arrangements. The coronavirus does not discriminate among people. The most effective defence against it is a united one.