HK Can Handle Possible Covid Rebound: Sophia Chan

Health Secretary Sophia Chan on Saturday expressed concern that Covid cases may increase again after social distancing measures are relaxed from next Thursday, but said she is confident that Hong Kong can handle a possible rebound in infections.

From April 21, evening dine-ins will return and gyms, cinemas and beauty parlours will reopen, among other measures.

Speaking on morning radio shows on Saturday, Professor Chan said the number of people out and about has already increased during the Easter weekend holiday.

She said officials will monitor the situation, but the government is confident that Hong Kong can cope even if cases rebound.

"We have built up a lot of capacity in terms of our designated hospitals, our isolation facilities, the community isolation facilities. So we are confident that if we have a rebound, we are able to cope with the situation," she said.

The health chief also said authorities don't have a threshold for when to tighten social distancing measures again.

"We do not have a hard number of confirmed cases as to whether we would retract the social distancing measures. I think we need to monitor a basket of factors, including the overall epidemic trend," Chan said.