Starting this Thursday, eight diners per table at restaurants will be allowed and 15 public beaches, swimming pools and water playgrounds will reopen.

Thirty-eight public swimming pools, however, will reopen between May 12 and 16 to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.

2. What premises will reopen on May 19?

Bars, party rooms, karaoke lounges, mahjong parlours, nightclubs and cruises will reopen on May 19.

Bars will be allowed to operate until 2am with up to four people per table, while restaurants can extend service hours from 10pm to midnight. Up to 120 people will also be allowed to attend wedding banquets, an increase from the current 20-person limit.

A 50 per cent limit on operating capacity for cinemas and some other premises will be raised to 85 per cent. Eating and drinking will also be allowed in cinemas.

The latest easing of curbs follows a first phase of relaxed measures on April 21, under which gyms, beauty and massage parlours, cinemas, game centres, theme parks and places of worship were allowed to reopen.

Indoor and outdoor sports venues, such as billiard rooms, bowling alleys and ice-skating rinks also reopened under the first phase.

Authorities require all employees at such businesses to undergo rapid antigen tests (RAT) every three days before they start work.

Everyone must wear masks while at the premises, but with exceptions for people who are eating, receiving salon facial treatments or taking part in religious ceremonies.

3. What are the restrictions for those who have only received two vaccine doses?

The second phase of the city’s vaccine pass scheme requiring two doses to enter specific premises kicked in on April 30. The third phase requiring three doses will start on May 31.

Cinemas will only be permitted to provide food and drink if all patrons and employees have received three doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

Children aged 12 or below or anyone who has recovered from Covid-19 in the past three months will also be eligible if they have already received two jabs.

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4. Are there any exemptions for recovered Covid-19 patients?

Health authorities have said anyone who has recovered from Covid-19 will not need to get the third dose of a vaccine.

Children aged 12 or below and patients who have received two jabs and also recovered from the coronavirus will be considered triple vaccinated.

Any recovered patients who have already received three doses of a vaccine will be considered as having taken their second booster shot.

Such residents will need to provide proof of their recovery, with eligible documents including isolation orders, discharge letters or records of a positive nucleic acid test result.

5. Are team sports or large-scale events allowed? What are the requirements? Are masks still required?

From Thursday, residents will be allowed to take off their masks when running or at country parks and outdoor sports venues such as basketball or tennis courts.

Each group will be generally limited to eight people, up from the current four, starting from May 19.

For team competitions, the maximum number of participants will be based on the rules of each sport.

Local tours can also resume operations but are limited to no more than 30 patrons per trip. Staff are required to undergo regular rapid testing and have received three doses of a vaccine.

If all tour group members test negative via RAT kits, the maximum number per group could be increased to 100.

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6. What premises are still closed and when will phase three launch?

In late March, authorities announced a road map for the gradual relaxing of social-distancing measures in three phases over a period of three months.

All scheduled premises will reopen starting from May 19 when the second phase of social-distancing easing begins. BBQ sites will remain closed pending further announcements.

The third phase could see curbs on the size of gatherings or other restrictions eased further, but officials have not announced the dates as of yet.