Government Extends Distancing Measures By A Week

The government has confirmed that it's extending by a week a raft of social-distancing measures, including mandatory mask-wearing inside and out as well as a ban on gatherings of more than two.

The rules had been due to expire on Wednesday but will remain in place until at least August 11, as health officials played down hopes that a fall in new coronavirus cases showed that the SAR's latest Covid-19 wave was on the wane.

"In view of the latest public health risk assessment, in particular the higher risks brought about by activities conducted without wearing masks as well as various social activities as shown in recent cases, we are of the view that, at present, it is necessary to extend social distancing measures," a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said in a statement on Monday.

It means that various facilities including swimming pools, gyms, mahjong centres and karaoke parlours, will have to remain closed.

Restaurants will be limited to offering takeaway services between 6pm and 5am, with a maximum of two people to a table at other times and capacity limits in place. Pubs and bars will have to stay closed.

People will have to continue wearing masks in all public and private places, with no exceptions for people undertaking exercise or for smokers. A maximum fixed penalty of HK$2,000 will apply.

The announcement came shortly after the Centre for Health Protection announced 80 new Covid-19 infections, the first daily total below 100 in almost two weeks.

The administration said the fact that many cases with no clear source of infection were being detected showed the "existence of sustained silent transmission in the community", meaning distancing measures were needed to control the outbreak.