Don’t break out the party hats just yet, folks.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced today that emergency coronavirus measures — like the ban on gatherings of more than four people and the closure of all bars, gyms, and other entertainment venues — would be extended by two more weeks. The restrictions, which had already been extended once, were set to expire on Thursday. They will now remain in place until May 7.
In a press conference this morning, Lam said that the extension was a “safer approach” which would “ensure all of the successes Hong Kong has achieved over the past three months”.
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Hong Kong has seen a downward trend in the number of new COVID-19 infections recently, with cases increasing in single-digit increments every day from April 12 to 19, culminating in zero new cases being recorded yesterday. Since January, the city has recorded 1,026 cases and four deaths from the infectious disease.
Echoing the previous sentiments of health officials, Lam said, “This is not the time to be complacent. If we relax, the good work that we have done will be in vain.”
As before, catering businesses like restaurants and cafes are still allowed to serve customers, but must continue to perform temperature checks, offer hand sanitizer, and space groups at least 1.5m away from each other.
Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said that law enforcement had conducted more than 55,000 inspections of catering businesses since restrictions were implemented on March 28, resulting in 25,000 verbal fines and 34 prosecutions. In the time since the government ordered scheduled premises such as bars, gyms, and karaoke lounges to close on April 3, law enforcement agents have conducted more than 6,100 related inspections, leading to 49 verbal fines and one prosecution.
Since the group gathering ban came into force on March 29, police have also issued 131 fixed penalty notices to offenders, resulting in three prosecutions.
Managers and owners of catering businesses and scheduled premises (such as bars, spas, and other entertainment venues) that do not comply with government requirements are liable to a HKD50,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment.
Any person who participates in, organizes, hosts, or knowingly allows such a prohibited group gathering is also committing an offence. Offenders are liable to a HKD25,000 and imprisonment for six months, but can discharge liability by paying a fixed penalty of HKD2,000.
