Test Requirement 'devastates' Bar Customer Numbers

The chairman of the SoHo Association says a new measure that requires bar and nightclub patrons to show a negative Covid-19 test result to gain entry has had a devastating impact on customer numbers.

Richard Feldman was commenting a day after the measure took effect. It was announced on Tuesday, following several recent outbreaks linked to nightlife.

Mr Feldman told RTHK that outbreaks in bars amounted to only three percent of total cases in Hong Kong.

He added: "I'm concerned that this policy will actually cause people to go to underground or illegal bars, or stay at home and party at home where there's no ventilation, no capacity requirements, no social distancing, no LeaveHomeSafe app and no vaccination requirement.

"So my concern is that it's actually going to cause a spread of the virus."