Health restrictions loosened as authorities relax ban to allow gatherings of up to 50 people

Hongkongers have been masking up and minimizing their social activities on their own accord since January, no lockdown necessary—and the city is reaping its rewards.

Authorities announced a significant relaxation of public health restrictions on Tuesday, allowing gatherings of up to 50 as the virus curve continues to stay flattened.

The new measures will come into effect Friday for two weeks.

“In this 14 days, obviously we’ll continue to monitor the situation, and see if there is any room for further lifting [of the restrictions] in this situation,” Chan said.

Asked if the extension of the ban of public gathering is related to planned protests in late June and July 1, Chan denied that political considerations are at play.

She added that authorities will work on expanding the scope of virus testing in the city to track down asymptomatic carriers.

Restrictions in entertainment and dining establishments will also be loosened. The maximum number of people per table in bars, pubs and nightclubs will be doubled from four to eight, while live performances will finally be permitted to resume.

The regulation on number of people per room in karaoke lounges, party rooms and gym rooms will be relaxed to allow up to 16 people per room.

Health experts agree that the city’s outbreak has stabilized. From late April to mid-May, authorities recorded almost three weeks of no local cases before the streak was broken after a 66-year-old tested positive for the virus.

And fears of an outbreak at a Sha Tin housing estate where a 35-year-old tested positive at the end of last month didn’t play out. All 847 samples collected in the second round of testing of residents in her block came back negative for the virus, authorities said.

READ MORE: Evacuations underway at Sha Tin estate after seventh resident tests positive for COVID-19

The gathering ban was first put in place alongside a number of social-distancing measures in late March when the city saw a surge in imported virus cases. The prohibition was raised to eight people in early May.

The total number of local coronavirus infections remains at 1,112 with no new cases reported Tuesday.