Stop Restaurant Dining Completely: Yuen Kwok-yung

Hong Kong University microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung has called for a total ban on dining out and urged people to order takeaways or eat at home as a third wave of Covid-19 infections continues to sweep across Hong Kong.

Speaking on an RTHK radio programme on Wednesday, Yuen said asymptomatic virus carriers could contaminate the environment when they take off their masks and talk to others in restaurants.

He said virus carriers could for instance contaminate the cutlery, which could then pass on the virus to restaurant staff and the food they serve.

Yuen said it would be ideal to ban dining out entirely.

He said that previous anti-epidemic control measures had been very strict, but after Father's Day, a number of these measures had been relaxed, including restaurants and bars being allowed to reach 80 percent of capacity.

He said that because air flow in these types of venues is very low, that can help keep the virus airborne.

Yuen said he understood some of the difficulties facing the city's catering industry, but said that if the epidemic is not kept under control in Hong Kong, then the city's hospitals would be paralysed.

The professor's comments come as a prohibition on dining out from 6pm to 5am took effect on Wednesday, with only takeaways being allowed during that period.

Lunch time arrangements will not be affected, but Health Secretary Sophia Chan said on Tuesday that all restaurant dining may be stopped if the Covid-19 situation gets worse.

Other anti-epidemic measures that have come into effect include closure of 12 types of venues like bars, cinemas, and gyms.