Coronavirus: Hong Kong not ready for significant relaxation of social-distancing rules, health minister says; 7 new Covid-19 cases confirmed
- Health secretary Sophia Chan says opening up Hong Kong too quickly risks reversing the city’s progress in fighting the fourth Covid-19 wave
- Authorities have announced a partial easing of social-distancing rules from Thursday, allowing pools and beaches to reopen, higher capacity at theme parks and other leisure venues
Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee insisted on Tuesday that conditions were not right for wholesale changes after announcing a partial easing of restrictions from Thursday to allow swimming pools and beaches to reopen, while cinemas, theme parks and performance venues would be able to admit more people.
The leader’s de facto cabinet, the Executive Council, also endorsed an exemption for religious venues, a source said. While gatherings of more than four people would be allowed again at churches and other religious venues, attendance must not exceed 30 per cent of capacity. The new arrangement is expected to come into effect on Wednesday.
Premises such as bars, karaoke lounges and mahjong parlours must remain closed.
Chan explained the cautious approach as Hong Kong recorded seven new coronavirus infections, six of which were imported. The sole local infection was linked to a previous case. The city’s tally of confirmed infections stood at 11,461, with 205 related deaths.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, meanwhile, said she hoped to receive as soon as possible the final report from an inquiry into the packaging defects that forced the suspension of BioNTech vaccinations, so the programme could resume.
