Covid Restrictions To Be Tightened Very Soon: Expert

A government adviser on the pandemic, David Hui, says he expects the administration to tighten social distancing measures very soon, as infection numbers are now climbing faster than during Hong Kong's third wave in July.

The Chinese University infectious diseases expert said on Monday that he has told the government to allow civil servants to work from home again so that private companies follow suit.

"High risk activities need to stop. Karaoke lounges, concerts, they should stop. And restaurants should close two hours earlier, at 10 at night, so people wouldn't be staying around shopping malls until so late," Hui said on an RTHK radio programme.

He said that as the weather turns colder, respiratory viruses are more active and so there should be tighter restrictions.

Hui said that it is worrying that the current wave of Covid-19 cases involves a higher ratio of infections with unknown sources and it's clear that there are many hidden chains of transmission in the community.

He added that overseas students coming back to Hong Kong should get a third coronavirus test 19 days after their return, on top of the two they already need to do before and during their 14-days of quarantine.

Hui said this is because in a small percentage of cases, people's onset of symptoms comes after 14 days.