Coronavirus: What are the dos, don’ts and challenges of Hong Kong’s newly mandated social-distancing measures?
- Libraries and museums were closed days before the government shuttered karaoke and mahjong venues, leading to raised eyebrows among critics
- With Food and Health Department officers being deployed to measure the distance between tables at restaurants, manpower is already being strained
Stringent social distancing measures were put in place by the Hong Kong government last Friday to combat a surge of coronavirus infections that was largely fuelled by imported cases. In less than a week, the number of new infections jumped by a third – from 518 cases on Friday, to 765 as of Wednesday.
Here is a glance at the social distancing rules Hongkongers will be observing for at least 14 days.
1. What can Hongkongers not do under the new regulations?
The closure of public facilities from March 27 means no more reading in libraries, museum visits, playing soccer, barbecuing on public beaches or skating in public parks.
The new regulation of the Prevention and Control of Disease ordinance also means any gathering of more than four people in a public place is prohibited.
The rule does not apply to private settings, the workplace, public transport, weddings under 20 people, funerals, courts or government buildings and meetings.