'Covid Restrictions On Eateries, Gyms To Be Eased'

Sources tell RTHK that the government is set to relax some social distancing measures and extend dine-in services at restaurants, and allow fitness centres as well as massage parlours to reopen with certain restrictions.

The government has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday afternoon during which details of the relaxed restrictions are likely to be announced.

Sources said under the planned relaxations, dining-in at restaurants could be extended till 10pm, from 9pm now.

This comes as RTHK learned that health officials are to report that only eight new coronavirus cases have been recorded in the city on Wednesday.

The number of new cases has been dwindling steadily in the past few days with 12 new coronavirus infections recorded on Tuesday.

The government imposed tight restrictions in July after a third wave of Covid-19 cases, which saw the number of infections recorded in the city shoot up dramatically.

But health officials have warned that there are still cases with unknown origins, and it was still too early to say the Covid-19 situation is under control.

Meanwhile, a Hospital Authority spokesperson has confirmed that two more Covid-19 patients have died in Hong Kong, bringing the city's coronavirus-linked death toll to 92.

The two male patients died on Wednesday morning after they were both admitted to hospital early last month. One of them, a 79-year-old man who was admitted to United Christian Hospital, had chronic illnesses before he tested positive for the coronavirus.

The second patient, a 66-year-old man who was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital, had to stay in the intensive care unit after coming down with fever and cough.

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