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Hong Kong will keep people off the streets to control new ‘more severe’ Covid-19 wave

Most of the new cases originate from within the city and were not brought in.

Staff Writers
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People wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus walk along a street in Hong Kong, Nov 30. Photo: AP
People wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus walk along a street in Hong Kong, Nov 30. Photo: AP

Covid-19 is surging again in Hong Kong. On Monday the city logged 78 new cases, and leader Carrie Lam said from Tuesday inside dining in restaurants will be banned from 6pm to curb the rise in the densely packed financial hub.

Lam, speaking at her weekly press briefing, told reporters, “The situation is very worrying. This wave is more complicated and more severe than the last wave. The confirmed cases are widely spread out.”

The government has already urged residents to stay at home and limit gatherings to no more than two people, while most civil servants must work from home.

“If we don’t control it strictly, there’ll be bigger risks. This time we’ll roll out suppressing measures aimed at limiting foot traffic flow on the streets,” Lam said.

The government has also ordered compulsory testing for workers at retirement homes and facilities for people with disabilities.

New measures to be announced will include the closure, once again, of gyms and beauty salons. Lam did not provide details or say when the new measures would take effect.

She said the government will also study additional relief measures for those affected by the latest restrictions, reports Channel NewsAsia.

Since Nov 17, more than 1,000 cases have been reported, only a few of which were brought from outside the city.

Hong Kong and Singapore have called off a planned travel bubble until next year in response to the surge in Hong Kong cases.