Officials call for restrained festivities over Lunar New Year as Hong Kong logs 21 new coronavirus cases

Residents urged to keep celebrations to a minimum and use the government’s risk-exposure app when visiting public places

Tourism industry calls on government to allow people to cross the border into mainland China to receive jabs

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The possibility of a post-Lunar New Year rebound in Covid-19 infections has experts calling for caution over the holiday period. Photo: Winson Wong

Zoe Low,Kathleen Magramo,Danny LeeandChan Ho-him

Published: 1:09pm, 11 Feb 2021Updated: 3:26am, 12 Feb 2021

Residents preparing to mark the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong should keep their family celebrations brief, avoid sharing meals and steer clear of crowds or else risk a resurgence of the coronavirus, health authorities have warned.

The daily caseload has been steadily falling over the past two weeks, with just 21 new infections confirmed on Thursday. But officials stressed the extended public holiday would be a test of the public’s willingness to keep following preventive measures, and urged people to use the government’s risk-exposure app when visiting public places, calling privacy fears unfounded.

Tourism industry figures and delegates to the national legislature also called on authorities to allow residents to cross the border into mainland China to receive Covid-19 jabs already being distributed.

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the health minister urged the millions of people making celebration plans to exercise restraint.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan has warned of a potential rebound in Covid-19 cases after the holidays. Photo: Jonathan Wong

“We are actually quite worried, because in our past experience, there is a risk of a rebound in infections after long holidays,” said Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee, secretary for food and health. “So we really need everybody to work together, and we will continue to monitor the overall situation.”

Seven of the latest cases were untraceable, while four were imported, involving one arrival each from India and Albania, and two from the Philippines. About a dozen people tested preliminary-positive.