Cleaning workers wearing protective gear walk past a wet market following the coronavirus disease outbreak at Sham Shui Po, one of the oldest districts in Hong Kong
Hong Kong posted more than 100 new coronavirus cases for the sixth consecutive day on Monday as officials announced dramatic new social distancing measures aimed at checking a surge in new infections.
Starting Wednesday, people in the semiautonomous territory will be banned from congregating in groups of more than two and forbidden from eating in restaurants for a period of one week, Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary for Administration Cheung Kin-chung said at a press conference.
People were diagnosed with Covid-19 at a Hong Kong nursing home
Existing mask-wearing requirements will be extended to include all outdoor areas and public sports facilities, and swimming pools will also close for one week, according to the announcement.
Cheung also said Sunday in a blog post on his department’s website that Hong Kong will launch a free testing initiative for more than 400,000 people deemed at high risk of catching the coronavirus, including care home residents and staff, restaurant workers, taxi drivers and residential compound managers.
Social distancing marks are seen at a restaurant in Hong Kong
Hong Kong confirmed a record 145 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, comprising 142 local infections and three imported cases. The territory’s total caseload now stands at 2,779, including 20 deaths.
Beijing will help Hong Kong build so-called field hospitals and increase nucleic acid testing capacity.
Cleaning workers wearing protective gear walk past a wet market following the coronavirus disease outbreak at Sham Shui Po, one of the oldest districts in Hong Kong
People were diagnosed with Covid-19 at a Hong Kong nursing home
Social distancing marks are seen at a restaurant in Hong Kong
