Hong Kong public services to fully return next week as mass Covid-19 testing reveals two hidden cases, the day before social distancing rules relax
- Two restaurant workers whose infections were revealed by citywide screening are among 12 new Covid-19 cases confirmed on Thursday
- Public services to be running at full capacity from Tuesday after all but essential ones were suspended on July 20
Senior health officials urged residents to minimise contact with others even as the overall trend for low numbers of new coronavirus cases continued on Thursday, with 12 confirmed infections.
Revealing that all public services would be back by Tuesday, a government spokesman said: “The epidemic situation has stabilised this month. Taking into account the needs for the functioning of society, government departments will resume normal public services.”
Dr Chui Tak-yi, undersecretary for food and health, urged Hongkongers to exercise caution as Covid-19 curbs covering some leisure facilities and other areas are eased from Friday.
“The public and businesses operators should carry out preventive measures, and pay extra attention to the risks when masks are removed when carrying out activities,” said Chui, who added that the average number of cases reported daily in the seven days between August 20 and 26 was 21.1.
That dropped to 13.7 for the period of August 27 to September 2, and 10.1 over the week to September 9, the official added.