Restaurants can remain open for dine-in services until 10pm, while venues like gyms and cinemas will be allowed to reopen starting next Thursday as Hong Kong looks to loosen restrictions now that the worst of the latest COVID-19 outbreak appears to be behind us.
Speaking at the government’s daily coronavirus press conference on Thursday, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan announced a slew of measures that will come into effect next Thursday.
Diners will be able to eat at restaurants till 10pm, while the cap on the number of people per table has been eased from two to four.
Authorities have banned evening dining in restaurants and closed many venues for more than three months while Hong Kong experienced its worst wave of the coronavirus, which has seen more than 1 million people infected and led to over 8,000 deaths.
Chan said catering premises will also be allowed to host banquets with no more than 20 people.
Staff at these food and beverage venues will have to take a rapid antigen test every three days.
But bars and pubs will remain closed.
Premises including gyms, cinemas, beauty parlors, religious venues, performing arts venues, museums, libraries, theme parks and amusement game centers will also be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity.
The same goes for indoor and outdoor sports venues including tennis courts, soccer pitches, children’s playgrounds, bowling alleys and snooker clubs.
Eating is allowed in specific cinema theaters if all staff and guests have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or have exemptions due to their age or health reasons.
A gathering cap of four is in place at these venues, but the limit for those doing sports training and competitions can be increased.
People will still need to wear a mask while exercising. However, beaches, swimming pools and BBQ pits will remain closed during this phase of reopening.
The limit on public gatherings will increase from two to four.
A ban on private gatherings of more than two households will also be lifted.
People have to continue to wear masks at all these venues, in public places and on public transport.
“The above measures allow us to resume social and economic activities, and for residents’ lives to gradually return to normal, but this is not without risks,” said Chan.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam added that every decision to introduce or ease restrictions is “a difficult one to make.”
“It is not simply just a public health issue, we have to take account of the social and economic needs,” she said.
The health minister also said that the pandemic has not fully stabilized, with the number of positive cases still high.
She urged the public to continue to adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures.
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