'Govt Should Have Power To Close Dance Venues'

Infectious disease experts on Monday urged the government to tighten regulation on dance venues after the city reported dozens of Covid-19 cases linked to the cluster.

Speaking on the RTHK programme Millennium, Professor David Hui urged the government to expand the definition of party rooms to include all dancing schools and private dance venues, so officials have the power to order them to close.

The government on Saturday ordered the shutdown of party rooms as part of its infection-control measures.

Professor Hui, who’s been advising the government on the pandemic, also said the administration should drastically tighten social distancing due to the rise in the number of Covid cases, such as suspending more classes and large-scale indoor events and re-introducing work-from-home arrangements.

HKU infectious disease expert Ho Pak-leung, meanwhile, said he believes the number of new Covid cases linked to the dance cluster would rise further, from the current 80 or so to more than 100 in the next one to two days.

Professor Ho said it appeared that dozens or more people had danced together in a big hall without wearing face masks.

On what counts as a party room, Ho said there is still a lot of confusion about that. He pointed out that venues where people gather to dance may not fall under the category of party rooms under current legislation.

The government is requiring anyone who had been to one of 14 dance clubs between the start of this month and Saturday to get tested by Tuesday or face a fine of HK$2,000. They risk prosecution and a jail sentence if they continue to refuse to comply.

Ho said the government should add one more dance studio in Mei Foo – known as Betterment Banquet Hall – to the list, after it emerged that a confirmed Covid patient had danced there with others.

Also speaking on the same RTHK programme, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said mobile testing stations were set up in Tsuen Wan, Sai Kung and Tai Po from today as part of government efforts to encourage more people to get tested.

The health chief said people can take free Covid tests or get testing kits at these facilities.

She added that five more community testing centres will be set up later this week to offer free Covid tests to the public, on top of the four that are currently in use.