Hong Kong likely to extend coronavirus social-distancing rules for two more weeks but some outdoor recreational spots may reopen earlier, sources say

The aim of the extension is to completely cut off local transmission chains of the coronavirus, two sources say

City records four new Covid-19 infections on Friday, the sixth straight day with a single-digit increase, bringing total to 1,021

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Hong Kong registered four new Covid-19 cases on Friday, the sixth straight day with a single-digit increase. Photo: AP

Published: 5:12pm, 17 Apr 2020Updated: 4:25pm, 11 Sep 2020

Hong Kong’s social-distancing rules to tackle Covid-19 are likely to be extended for another two weeks after the current deadline ends next Thursday, according to sources, although the government will consider reopening some outdoor recreational spots.

The aim of the extension was to completely cut off local transmission chains, two sources said on Friday.

Schools were also only likely to reopen after university entrance exams ended in late May.

These plans emerged as Hong Kong’s No 2 health official said there was a preliminary downward trend in coronavirus cases locally as the city recorded four new Covid-19 infections on Friday, the sixth straight day with just a single-digit increase, raising the city’s tally to 1,021.

In light of the lower figures in recent days, the government met with medical experts on Tuesday to discuss the direction of control measures but concluded that it was too early to decide on when to lift them, according to one source.