Coronavirus: health experts suggest relaxing restrictions as city records one imported Covid-19 case
- Chinese University’s Dr David Hui say limits on public gatherings can be lifted if there are no new locally transmitted cases in coming week
- The city’s newest case involves a 24-year-old man who on Tuesday returned from studying in the United States
Two health experts have suggested relaxing Hong Kong’s restrictions on public gatherings if Covid-19 remains under control over the coming seven days, with the city not recording any local infections for nearly two weeks.
Speaking to the Post, Chinese University’s Dr David Hui Shu-cheong, a member of the government’s expert committee on public health, said he agreed with the recent decision to reopen karaoke lounges, nightclubs and party rooms, due to the city having gone 13 days without local transmission.
If the situation remained under control, Hui said the ban on public gatherings of more than eight people could be lifted as well.
“I believe if there are no new cases in the coming week, then we can abolish the ban, but people should continue to wear masks in crowded areas and when travelling on public transport,” he said.
For restaurants, which are currently limited to eight people per table, Hui suggested a further relaxation to 12 people, but said tables should remain 1.5 metres apart and that customers should wear masks after eating.
A source who is a member of the government’s expert advisory group on public health said he expected the administration to extend the limit to 12 or 16 people when the ban expires on June 4, instead of dropping it entirely.