Bars And Pools To Reopen, Gathering Ban Stays

The Hong Kong government announced a raft of relaxations like reopening of bars and swimming pools as the city reported no new local Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, but the authorities said some restrictions like a ban on public gatherings of more than four people will stay.

Bars, theme parks, and karaoke parlours are to reopen from Friday and restaurant dining hours will be extended until midnight.

Health Secretary Sophia Chan said that venues like exhibition centres, party rooms, night clubs, and swimming pools will also be allowed to open.

She also said the mandatory use of masks in establishments like fitness centres and sports venues will also be eased, but other anti-epidemic measures for these venues will stay.

The regulation to wear a face mask in other public areas will remain while the ban on public gatherings of more than four people will remain.

But the health chief ruled out rolling back the measures to the levels that existed in June, before the third wave of coronavirus outbreaks started in the city.

She said that the epidemic will not go away until an effective vaccine is found, and warned that there could be a fourth wave of infections in the winter.

When asked if the government was being inconsistent in telling people to stay vigilant but at the same time reopening venues that encourage people crowding together, Chan replied: "I have always emphasised that even with our fourth stage of relaxation, it’s not a total relaxation, it’s with conditions."

She also said that the authorities have inspected more than 3,000 restaurants from September 11 to 13, and prosecuted 53 of them for breaching anti-epidemic regulations including not maintaining a 1.5-metre distance between tables, and filling restaurants at more than 50 percent capacity.

The announcement comes after health authorities for the first time in more than two months reported no new local Covid-19 infections.

The Centre for Health Protection said there were just four imported cases reported in the city on Tuesday, and the latest patients had arrived in Hong Kong from Japan, the Philippines, Rwanda, and India.

This brings the city's tally of confirmed cases to 4,975, and 101 deaths.

Following the government announcement on theme parks, Ocean Park said it will reopen on Friday, whereas Hong Kong Disneyland said it's preparing to reopen but no date has been set.

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