Religious gatherings, sports activities allowed from Friday as Hong Kong records no local Covid-19 cases
- Other social-distancing measures will stay in place for coming week, chief executive says
- Health authorities record four imported cases – two from India and one each from Canada and France
There were four new imported infections – two from India and one each from Canada and France – taking the official tally to 5,079, with 105 related deaths. On Saturday, Hong Kong marked its first day without a local Covid-19 case since September 15.
A 71-year-old woman thought to have recovered from the virus, with antibodies in her blood, also tested preliminary positive, according to a medical source. The patient is a resident at Yuen Long Home for the Elderly. She is currently in Tuen Mun Hospital. But following previous practice, she might not be counted as a new case.
In a press release on Tuesday afternoon, the government announced that religious gatherings would be exempted from the social-distancing ban starting on Friday. Such activities must be in venues that are regularly used for worship, with the maximum turnout no more than half the original capacity.
Team sports would also be allowed starting from Friday at designated grounds, with the gathering cap on four people lifted.
Other measures, such as mandatory mask-wearing in public indoor and outdoor areas, social-distancing measures in restaurants and groups of not more than four people, would continue for one more week until October 8.
